G S Asgotra
Early Times Report
Jammu, June 18: In 2012, the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) had assigned the fixing of High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) in commercial and non-commercial vehicles in the state to a Delhi-based firm. Three years on, the job is, however, still incomplete.
Source told Early Times that the MVD had directed the firm-Real Mazon India Limited (RMIL)-to complete the task including putting in place the necessary infrastructure in two years, but the latter missed the deadline. And instead of taking action against the firm, the MVD officials kept on extending deadline after deadline.
It may be mentioned that the Supreme Court had ordered installation of HSRPs on the vehicles across the country within two years. Former Transport Minister, Qamar Ali Akhoon had also repeatedly directed the Real Mazon to install HSRPs in the stipulated time, but to no avail. "The firm has only laid electric poles on roadside from Lakhanpur to Jammu. Close circuit television (CCTV) cameras and Global Positioning System (GPS) is yet to be installed", the sources said.
Last year, Akhoon had announced that the government was going to install GPS in all types of commercial vehicles in J&K to check violations like overloading, over-speeding and plying against route permits etc. One year on, however, there has been no progress on the announcement. ARTO Jammu, Pawan Kumar told Early Times, "We have tried fixing HSRP in all newly vehicles but old vehicles were still plying without HSRP." Joint Transport Commissioner, Narinder Singh said the department has directed all district authorities to install HSRP in every vehicle and the process would take one more year for completion. |
