The state transport department has taken the third and final attempt to introduce high security registration plates (HSRPs) for vehicles after two failed bids.

The department has sent an offer letter to Delhi-based M/s Utsav Safety System (P) Ltd to introduce the HSRP system in the state. “The letter has been sent and we are awaiting a reply from them,” transport secretary Rahul Singh told The Telegraph on Sunday.

According to sources, the department is expecting a reply from the company within a week.

“Utsav Safety System was the third company selected during the last tender process for the HSRP system in the state. After the first two companies failed to meet the deadline, the department has sent the offer letter to Utsav Safety. The April 13 deadline to start the HSRP system for new vehicles in the state has lapsed, while the target to cover old vehicles is June 15. We would try to start the corresponding process at the earliest,” a transport department officer said.

The department had on September 21, 2011, issued tenders for inviting bids from manufactures to set up the infrastructure to manufacture and provide/fix the registration plates on all vehicles in the state. Later, it entered into an agreement with Delhi-based DD Industries Pvt. Ltd to start the process by March 31, 2012. The firm, however, failed to meet the deadline, following which its contract was cancelled. The state entered into the second agreement with Delhi-based Agro Impex (I) Pvt. Ltd on April 11. Agro Impex was supposed to start the system by April 30, but it, too, failed to set-up any corresponding infrastructure by May 2. A legal notice was sent to the company on May 3. In response, the company sent a reply letter to the transport department. However, the transport department did not accept the letter. It issued a contract termination letter to the firm on May 9 and forfeited the security deposit of Rs. 50 lakh.

Sources in the transport department said Agro Impex (I) Pvt. Ltd has challenged the termination of its contract. “The company claimed that it did not receive any correspondence from the transport department and is completely unaware about termination of the contract. The company is mulling legal steps if the transport department does not consider its contentions,” a source in the transport department said.

The transport department is keeping its option open to go for a re-tender process if Utsav Safety does not accept the offer. “If Utsav Safety does not accept the offer or fails to meet terms of the contract to be signed later, the department would have to go for a re- tender process because we have to meet the Supreme Court directives,” the source added.