Secure vehicle number plates project delayed

The Delhi government has already missed the December 31 deadline set by the Supreme Court to implement high-security registration plates scheme for vehicles.

The Delhi government has already missed the December 31 deadline set by the Supreme Court to implement high-security registration plates scheme for vehicles. Sources in the Transport department,meanwhile,said the final decision on a date to issue the notification for implementing the scheme will only be taken later this week.

Also,contrary to the apex courts recommendation to keep it a single-vendor process,the agency engaged by the state has sub-tendered it. According to sources,the government has sent the proposal to the Law department to find ways to save the project. A meeting in this connection will be held on Monday.

According to officials,Delhi Integrated Multi Modal Transit System (DIMTS),the agency engaged to implement the project,has hired a sub-contractor to procure the tamper-proof high security registration plates. However,DIMTS will do the embossing on its own,and it will also fit the plates to the vehicles at the centres identified by the Transport department.

The Delhi government is also concerned about DIMTS demands for better infrastructure,including more rooms and other facilities,to complete the project. The Transport department is not considering these demands at the moment, said an official.

Meanwhile,according to sources,the rates for the registration plates have been decided. The vendor will charge between Rs 80 (for 2-wheelers) and Rs 230 (for 4-wheelers). DIMTS is demanding Rs 100 per plate for the embossing,plus 12 per cent service tax. These registration plates will be available in the transport centres for around Rs 350, said the source.

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