Telangana state government has decided to change the registration number of all the vehicles registered prior to the formation of the state to include the tag of new state TS. Previously it was decided to implement this change within three to four months, however, it didn’t materialize even after two and half years due to legal and logistic problems.

To complete this process at the earliest, the State Transport Department is facilitating online access for changing the vehicle registrations from Andhra Pradesh (AP) to Telangana (TS) for vehicles bearing registration codes prior to June 2, 2014.

Though the department planned to introduce the system last year, it had to be postponed due to the reorganisation of districts. Officials are now waiting for a fresh notification in this regard, so that installation of High Security Number Plates would become mandatory for re-registration of vehicles.

According to transport officials there are nearly 75 lakh motorists who have to change only the State and district codes for their vehicles. At the same time, there are nearly one lakh vehicle owners, whose vehicles are registered in Andhra Pradesh but are plying in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits. They have to get their vehicles re-registered.

Now the contentious issue seems to be the responsibility of bearing the cost of changing the registration plates. Many social activists are insisting that the State government should bear the same without burdening vehicle owners.

The government had earlier made it clear that the vehicle owners just have to replace AP with TS, followed by the new district code, without disturbing the last four numerals and series. It would cost Rs.350 for two-wheelers and Rs.550 for four-wheelers for reassigning the number while an additional Rs.245 and Rs.619 would be charged by the Department for issuing High Security Number Plates for two-wheelers and four wheelers respectively.