Pune vehicle owners face delays in HSRP appointments

Many vehicle owners in Pune are struggling to get appointments for high-security registration plates (HSRPs). They face long waits, even after the deadline for installation was extended to June 30. Residents like Vinod Kulse report that the earliest available appointment is not until mid-May, which poses challenges for those out of town. To alleviate the wait times, Pune's Regional Transport Office (RTO) offers a special arrangement. If 25 people from the same area request home installation together, there will be no extra charge. However, individuals booking alone must pay an additional fee. The state government had previously extended the deadline for vehicles registered before April 1, 2019, to help prevent a rush. Despite this, many vehicle owners are still upset about issues like delayed appointments and a slow process. Currently, around 1,000 to 1,200 HSRPs are installed daily in Pune, but with over 2.4 million vehicles needing plates, many are concerned about the pace of progress. Experts suggest that the RTO needs to increase the number of registration centers from 126 to at least 300 to improve efficiency. RTO officials stated they are working with the service provider to expand the number of centers and noted that some centers have appointments available as early as mid-April.