Split hits transport project

Hyderabad: The High Security Registration Plates project has received a major setback with the state’s bifurcation. Special counters at some RTOs do not have a single person throughout the day while at others, the counters, although open, do not have any attendants. Officials say that the project might be put on the backburner till bifurcation related work is settled in the department. The project, which had started only recently after a number of hiccups, is likely to be delayed further and production of new number plates have been stopped for more than a month now.

“The counters that are open at the Regional Transport Offices are for people who might still want to register. Bookings are being taken but by and large the project is hanging on its last thread. There is not much interest being shown in high security plates,” said a senior official. The project is being implemented by the APSRTC (Andhra Pradesh State Road Transport Corporation), which has its internal problems related to bifurcation and division of employees. “The implementation of the project will now need to be divided between the two successor states,” added the official.