Actors Kajal, Archita Sahu, Gungun and Akash Dasnayak campaign for the use of proper number plates in Bhubaneswar. Telegraph picture

Bhubaneswar, Nov. 21: City police today added glamour quotient to its drive to promote awareness about the use of correct registration number plates on two-wheelers.

“This is a good move by the police as it will help catch criminals who speed away on their motorcycles after committing crimes, taking advantage of fancy number plates which are hard to read,” said Biswanath Mishra, a two-wheeler driver at AG Square after a host of Odia film stars handed him a leaflet printed with rules for number plates.

However, another two-wheeler driver, Rupak Mohapatra, felt the move was useless as things would go back to square one after a few days. “Every time the city police start a drive, it creates a buzz for a few days. Then the situation becomes the same. Policemen will make some money this way,” he said.

The awareness drive for the number plates started this morning with a number of leading Odia film stars and sports personalities distributing the leaflets to motorists at AG square near the traffic police station and educating people about the prescribed number plates.

The celebrities included actors Anubhav Mohanty, Archita Sahu, Sabyasachi Mishra, Akash Dasnayak, Pintu Nanda, stand-up comedian Papu Pum Pum, athlete Anuradha Biswal, chess player Padmini Rout, football player Shradhanjali Samantray and many other film and sports personalities. Some former director generals of police were also seen educating people about the number plates. Commissioner of police B.K. Sharma said that this drive would continue till December 31. “We want people to voluntarily follow the number plates prescribed in the Central Motor Vehicle Act 1986 during the campaign period. We are giving motorists ample time to write their registration numbers according to the norms. We will start implementing it from January 1, 2012,” said Sharma.

The commissioner said roping in popular faces of the film and sports fraternity would have greater impact on people. “Around 95 per cent of the motorists do not follow the ideal number plate norm. In most cases, goons manage to flee the spot after committing crimes, as people cannot read the numbers on their vehicles. This drive will help police arrest these troublemakers,” he said.

A senior police officer said this drive would be held at various squares in the city. Students would also be roped in to create awareness. “Police will also have put up kiosks where the number plates will be printed at a nominal price,” said the officer.

However, some raised questions about the timing of the drive. “We will write the abbreviation of the state as “OR”. After some days, we will be forced to change it to “OD” (for Odisha). It will cost us more,” said Rabindra Sethi, a government employee.

However, the police officials said the drive would continue as per the existing norms. “The new format will be implemented only after the state road transport department gives the notification,” said an officer.

The State Transport Authority (STA) officials said nearly 35 lakh vehicles that have been registered till date would follow the existing norm. “After the central government changes the registration number norms mentioned in the Central Motor Vehicle Act, the vehicles that are registered after that will have to bear the changed number plate,” said STA assistant director Tapan Mishra,