High security number plate project to be delayed

Highly placed sources said they had written to the government seeking to amend certain conditions laid down in the bid document as per the directions issued by the Madras High Court in a writ petition filed by one of the companies.

“We wrote to the government in October 2017 with the modifications suggested by the court. We expect that the revised norms would be adopted by the government and the state would have to give effect to it by issuing necessary government orders and notify the same. Once notified, the Transport Commissioner would publish a revised tender for it,” a senior official said.

When contacted, Transport Commissioner C Samayamoorthy admitted that the date for opening bids had been deferred to June 8.

A copy of a communique from his office, which DT Next has access to, said the delay was attributed to the litigation in the High Court.

According to the original tender document, the shortlisted firm would have to provide field performance warranty for the retro-reflective sheeting for the proposed registration plates for a period of five years. The warranty for other services provided by the firm would also cover an equal term.

The firm should provide for reflective sheeting, aluminium plates, hot stamping foils, holograms, laser printing, snap locks and embossing stations.

The HSRP will have five safety features — chromium base chakra hologram, India inscribed hot stamping foil, a seven-digit unique laser code, self-destructive windshield sticker and non-removable snap lock. The plate’s laser numbering would have the alphanumeric identification of both the registration number issued by the registering authority and manufacturers.

The Supreme Court had in 2012 said that installation of HSRP is a statutory command which is not only in the interest of the security of the state, but also serves a larger public interest.