Soon, dream number plates to cost more

LUCKNOW: Soon, sporting ‘BOSS’ on your vehicle’s number plate is going to cost more.

The transport department has identified several new numbers (apart from the premium ones ) that vehicle owners are vying to get, often to match some text, such as 8055 to resemble as BOSS or a number that they find lucky for themselves.

Such numbers might also become costly just like the 347 premium numbers .

In Hindi, some numbers match the words Yadav, Raam and many others. Officials remain under pressure to allot these numbers.

“We are proposing to allow a vehicle owner to pre-book any number of their choice. If this happens, one can get a number of one’s choice by paying a certain fee at the time the series starts,” said Raghvendra Singh, assistant transport officer (administration).

The proposal also includes 30 additional numbers to be included in the premium numbers’ list. There are 347 premium numbers in each series of 10,000 numbers. The new numbers include 0032, 5060, 2030 and 3040. The numbers open to pre-booking will be in addition to the premium numbers.

Sample this: The number 214 does not fall in premium category but it is reshaped to give an impression of Raam in Hindi and similarly 8055 is written in style as ‘BOSS’. There are several such number that people try to get for their vehicles in each series.

A WIN-WIN FOR THE DEPARTMENT

By making these numbers available for pre-booking the officials say they will gain in two ways. First, the pre-booking will come for a fee. The premium numbers come in different slabs of ₹3000, ₹ 5000, ₹ 7500 and ₹ 15000 .

These (non-premium) numbers shall be priced up to ₹3000. A decision will be taken on this later . Secondly, the officers will get rid of unwarranted pressure from vehicles owners to get these number allotted.

Several times senior officers call up for a particular (non-premium) numbers and often there is more than one claimant. It is difficult for the official to decide in such a situation.

MODIFYING NO. SIZE OR SHAPE IS OFFENCE

Modifying numbers on vehicle’s number plate is an offence. There is a specific size and shape of numbers for two-wheelers and four-wheelers which the owners have to follow.

Any change in size or prescribed shape can call for penalty by transport or traffic department.