All vehicles in Mizoram to sport high security plate

According to Mizoram Transport department sources, around 6500 High Security Number Plates have been issued so far, and if it goes as plan, by April 26, 2014, which is the time stipulated by the government, all the vehicles in the state are expected sport the new number system.

High Security Plate manufacturing centre, the transport office at Chaltlang, was recently visited by local mediapersons where they were told that with good internet facility and power supply workers could complete around 55 plates per day.

Besides, the only one embossing machine with which they used to work is now supplemented by another machine. Therefore, work has become faster.

The two machines in Aizawl will manufacture number plates for Serchhip, Champhai, Mamit and Kolasib district, besides Aizawl district. The machine in Lunglei will manufacture number plates for Saiha and Lawngtlai district besides Lunglei district. As of now, there are 11 workers in Aizawl and 5 workers in Lunglei.

The new number system is expected to prevent vehicle theft, as it will have laser code with the owner’s name, address, chasis number, engine number and other important information. The number plate is being locked by a machine, therefore, it will mean stolen if destroyed. The vehicle owners after obtaining smart card from transport department have to take application form and after submission of it, will be given the High Security Number Plate as per seniority.

Manufacturing of the High Security Number Plate is being undertaken by Shimnit Utsch India Private Limited, a joint venture of India and German Company, and their centre at Mumbai. When the three machines works in a regular manner, it is expected that around 200 plates will be manufactured per day.

The manufacture of High Security Number Plate was inaugurated on April 27, 2012 by Transport Secretary H.Darzika, on which day High Security Plates for Chief Minister and other important officials were manufactured. It is estimated that there are around 1, 50,000 vehicles in Mizoram.

The expectation of a recovery in industrial performance has been belied against the backdrop of a slew of economic reforms announced by the government, it said.

The survey “has indicated greater percentage of sectors reporting low-to-negative growth in October-December quarter of current year over the corresponding period of last year”.

It points to a continuation of the slowdown as the positive results of the recent reform measures announced are yet to take effect.

“A commensurate action is now required from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in the form of reduction in repo rate to ease the monetary situation. Industry is in need of a combination of fiscal, monetary and administrative measures,” it said.

Industrial production contracted by 0.4% in September on account of dismal performance of manufacturing and capital goods sectors.

Sectors expecting low-to-negative growth include earth moving and construction equipment, machine tools, transformers, textile machinery, and tractors.

Besides, consumer durables such as passenger cars, two-wheelers, refrigerators, washing machines, air- conditioners, TV, are among the sectors expecting low-to-negative growth.