Unregistered Vehicles Flood Pune Streets, Raising Safety and Enforcement Concerns
Pune,โข India – September 22, 2025 – A surge in vehicles operating without registration number plates is causing alarm in pune, prompting calls for stricter enforcement and raising concerns about public safety andโ potential criminal activity. Authorities report a notable increase in โsightings of these unregistered vehicles across the city โin recent weeks, with reports concentrated in areas like Hinjewadi, Wakad, and Kharadi.
The โฃproliferation of vehicles lacking proper identification โposes a multifaceted challenge. beyond hindering trafficโข law enforcement – including the ability โคto track vehicles involved in accidents or traffic violations – the anonymity afforded by unregistered plates facilitates illicit activities. Experts warn this trend could contribute to increased instances of โขhit-and-run cases, vehicle theft, and the use of vehiclesโข inโ criminal enterprises. The Regional Transport Office (RTO) โis facing mounting pressure to address the โคissue, with citizens demanding immediate action to curb the growing problem.
According to data released by the Pune RTO on September 21, 2025, enforcement โteams have identified over 500 unregistered vehicles during routine checks in the last โmonth alone. While the exact number of such vehicles operating citywide remains unknown, officials acknowledgeโ the figure is likely substantially higher. “Weโค are intensifying our surveillance and conducting โคregular drives to intercept these vehicles,” stated a senior RTO official,โ requesting anonymity. “However, the sheer volume makes it a tough task.We need public cooperation to effectively tackle this issue.”
The RTO emphasizes that โคoperating a vehicle without aโข registration plate is a violation โคof the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, carrying a penalty of up to โน5,000 for the first offense and potential imprisonment for repeat offenders. Despite the legal repercussions,the practice persists,fueled by factors โขranging from delayed vehicle registration processes to intentional attempts to evade accountability.
Authorities are exploring several strategies to combat the problem, including increased deployment of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology and collaboration with local police to identify and apprehend owners of unregistered vehicles. Citizens are โขencouragedโค to โคreport sightings of such vehicles to the RTO or local police stations to assist in the ongoing investigation. The โRTO plans to launch โa public awareness campaign next week toโค educate vehicle owners about the importance of timely registration and the consequences of non-compliance.
