Automobile dealers across the city have stopped installing High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) in vehicles for allegedly not getting paid for their efforts. They have submitted an application with the Ahmedabad Regional Transport Office (RTO), in which they have said that though the RTO and FTA HSRP company get a part of the money paid by the vehicle owners, the dealers get nothing for their service. FTA HSRP provides the equipment and material for the process.

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Installation of HSRP costs between Rs 140 and Rs 420, depending on the vehicle. While the lowest price is paid by two-wheeler owner, the highest slab is for trucks and buses. New plates for four-wheelers for commercial (vehicles with yellow plates) or personal use cost Rs 400. According to an RTO officer, installation of the new plates cost two-wheeler owners Rs 140, with an additional charge of Rs 89; for four-wheelers, it is Rs 400 with an additional cost of Rs 177. The additional cost that customers pay goes to FTA HSRP company.

Though the installation is conducted at RTO, the administration has appointed 110 automobile dealers across the city to deal with the volume of applications. The car dealers in their application said they were not getting any money for the installation process conducted by them at their showrooms. They said that is why they had stopped the process.

"We have gotten the application from the dealers regarding the issue and regarding the matter, we have spoken to higher authorities to sort out the issue," said GS Parmar, RTO of Ahmedabad. "The dealers were appointed so that the RTO rush can be diverted and the installation work can be done fast."

Parmar added that the equipment and material for the installation are provided by the FTA HSRP company, and only the dealer's manpower is used for the process.

"The entire system, equipment and materials are provided by the company to dealers free of cost," said a company official who did not want to be named "We have only taken the manpower from the dealer and for which as per governments contract we are providing Rs10 and Rs15 for the installation of the new plates on two-wheelers and four-wheelers respectively."

The Supreme Court, in 2012, made HSRP mandatory for all new vehicles. The state government has given vehicle owners time till February 15 to comply with the directive.