Nagpur: The Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Department’s directive requiring all vehicles to install High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP) by April 2025 has severely impacted small-scale vendors, particularly number plate manufacturers and radium sticker workers.

While the rule aims to curb vehicle-related thefts and ensure uniformity in vehicle identification, it has left many local businesses struggling to survive. The vendors who previously made and installed traditional number plates are now deprived of work, with no alternative sources of income.

For years, small workshops and roadside vendors have been manufacturing number plates and selling vehicle accessories, supporting families and repaying loans through this trade. However, with the enforcement of the new regulation, many find their businesses on the verge of closure.

Local shop owners have expressed their concerns, stating that they have invested heavily in machinery and equipment for number plate manufacturing, which is now rendered useless. Many had taken loans to sustain their businesses, and the sudden shift to government-mandated HSRP plates has left them with significant financial losses.

Business owners argue that instead of awarding contracts solely to large companies, the government should have incorporated local vendors into the HSRP implementation process. The lack of such provisions has led to widespread distress among small entrepreneurs, who now face an uncertain future.

When contacted, a senior transport official stated that the decision to mandate HSRP was taken by the state government, leaving little room for alterations. However, affected vendors continue to appeal for government intervention, hoping for measures that will allow them to be included in the new system or provided with alternative livelihood support.

As the April 2025 deadline approaches, the struggle of these small vendors highlights the unintended consequences of regulatory changes, raising concerns about the long-term impact on local businesses and employment.