City sees sharp rise in vehicle registration on Akshaya Tritiya

Vashi RTO has been registering 120 two-wheelers every day as the festival approaches

The regional transport office (RTO) in Vashi has witnessed a noticeable increase in the registration of private vehicles this Akshaya Tritiya.

While registration of twowheelers has gone up by almost 40%, registration of cars has seen an increase by almost 60% in the past few days. It is believed that anything bought on the auspicious day of Akshaya Tritiya brings good luck, not only to the buyer but to his/ her entire family.

“The buyers choose vehicles from showrooms and complete all formalities of registering those a few days ahead of the festival. On the auspicious day, they come with their families and take the vehicles home,” said DV Modak, assistant road transport officer (RTO), Vashi.

According to Modak, on an average, 80 two-wheelers are registered in the RTO every day. However, they are now registering around 120 two-wheelers regularly for past four to five days. Around 40 vehicle buyers approach them every day to register their four-wheelers. This number has now gone up to around 65.

“Apart from Akshaya Tritiya, the registration of vehicles sees hike during Gudi Padwa, Ganesh Chaturthi, Diwali and Dussehra. However, the hike was minimal during the Gudi Padwa this year,” he added.

In the last financial year, 24,354 motor cycles, 1,966 tourist taxis, 2,445 auto rickshaws, 143 school buses, 2,609 trucks, 267 tankers, 18 ambulances and 364 trailers were registered at the Vashi RTO. The total number of vehicle in their jurisdiction is now 3,84,551.

“Another time when more people register their vehicles is just after the New Year. The companies launch new models at

that time and the vehicles reach the showrooms by January 15. So from that time to February end, people buy vehicles and thus the number of registration increases at our office,” another

official said.

The number of vehicles registered with Vashi RTO decreased in 2013 because local body tax (LBT) was introduced by the Navi Mumbai Municipal

Corporation (NMMC).

People started going to RTOs in other places of the state where there was no LBT. After LBT was scrapped, more people are registered their vehicles at this office.

BACHCHAN KUMAR People buy vehicles from showrooms and complete all registration formalities a few days before the festival.

BACHCHAN KUMAR Some showrooms have started announcing easy loans to purchase vehicles.