High Security Registration Plates (HSRP) have become famous in Jharkhand - more for the legal tussle over it than the purpose they are going to serve on vehicles.
After dragging its feet for months, the transport department had floated a fresh bid in September last year. However, the l1 bidder, Rosmerta, too joined the lawsuit filed by earlier agency empanelled by the department. “Rosmerta has also been made a party by Agros in the lawsuit they have filed,” said Joint Transport Commissioner RK Ram.
Agros Impex India Pvt ltd, the original agency empanelled by the transport department, had filed a case after its contract was terminated. Interestingly, another agency, Kanpur-based Frost International ltd, is said to receded into oblivion since the matter went to court. “Agros had done work in as many as 21 districts of Jharkhand. However, the quality of the material they provided was pathetic, besides the shoddy standard of work,” maintained Ram.Officials of the transport department confided that the matter would be put up for hearing before court later in August.
HSRP were supposed to be installed on both new as well as old vehicles, with the transport department in each district being the sole authorising body. According to the original agreement, agencies are also entrusted with the task of collecting old number plates while installing a HSRP and destroying the older one, according to norms.