A dull bidding session was ignited suddenly as three bidders attempted to outdo one another for one coveted number. The winner, eventually pledged Rs. 1.30 lakh – in addition to the Rs. 75,000 placed as a minimum bid amount, and walked away on Tuesday with a vehicle registration plate saying ‘9999’.
A total of 22 bidders arrived at the Transport Commissioner’s office to bid for 50 numbers opened under the Indiranagar RTO (KA 03) ‘MX’ series (that is, the highest bid number plate will read KA 03 MX 9999).
Eventually, 11 ‘special’ numbers saw bids cumulating Rs. 1.80 lakh. In addition to the minimum registration amount of Rs. 75,000 for each number, the government has earned a revenue of Rs. 10.05 lakh after the auctioning.
While most numbers – such as ‘0999’, ‘0045’, ‘0099’, ‘0007’, ‘5555, ‘0666’ – went for Rs. 1,000 (in addition to the Rs. 75,000 minimum registration amount), ‘0001’ went for Rs. 41,000, and ‘9999’ will now adorn a luxury SUV owned by Natraj Nagarahalli after he pays the department Rs. 2.05 lakh in all.
“This is a lucky number, and we expected the bid to go up to this much,” said Satish S., who bid for the plate on behalf of Mr. Nagarahalli.
The open auction system – which is being held for the second time after numbers in Jnanabharathi RTO last week – will ensure a transparent manner of obtaining ‘special’ vehicle registration numbers without the interference of middlemen, and will ensure additional income to the department.
The next ‘series’ is expected to open in six months; and 50 numbers (out of 999 numbers between 0001 and 9999) will be available for auction.
