LUCKNOW, March 19 -- In a fresh push to enforce vehicle compliance, the transport department has decided that vehicles without high security registration plates (HSRP) will not be allowed to undergo pollution under control (PUC) tests from April 15. Department officials said the move is aimed at closing a major enforcement gap, as a significant number of vehicles continue to run without HSRP despite repeated drives and awareness campaigns. HSRP has been mandatory for all vehicles registered since April 1, 2019, which was later extended to older vehicles. However, nearly two crore vehicles across the state are still without them. Authorities said that without HSRP, it becomes difficult to verify vehicle details during pollution checks, weakening enforcement. Prabhat Pandey, RTO (enforcement), said the step is expected to force defaulters to comply. He added that vehicle owners who fail to get a valid pollution test done may face a fine ranging between Rs.5,000 and Rs.10,000 under existing provisions. Officials pointed out that the delay is more pronounced in rural areas, particularly among two-wheeler owners. Citing provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act, the department reiterated that no dealer is allowed to deliver a vehicle without an HSRP. Dealers have been warned of strict action in case of violations. The transport department, along with the National Informatics Centre (NIC), is upgrading the PUC system. Once integrated, the portal will automatically check HSRP data before issuing pollution certificates. HSRP is an aluminium number plate fitted with a chromium-based hologram and a unique 10-digit laser code. It stores key vehicle details such as engine and chassis numbers, making duplication or tampering difficult....