The craze to own a fancy registration number among vehicle owners is filling the coffers of the Transport Department in the city. Thanks to the craze of owning fancy numbers, the Regional Transport Authority, Vijayawada, has earned nearly Rs.2.70 crore this year, through the auction of such numbers, about Rs.70 lakh higher than last year.
Apart from owing a posh car, the trend of flaunting fancy numbers for vehicles is catching fast among the vehicle owners in the city. At times, four to five vehicle owners are bidding for a particular number, in addition to shelling lakhs to own a swanky car.
The RTA, Vijayawada, had earned about Rs.1.99 crore last year. In 2013, the earnings were Rs.1.50 crore. All these earnings are just through auction of fancy numbers, excluding the vehicle registration fee.
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In fact, the authorities here were eyeing on netting a revenue of Rs.2.50 crore this year and the department here has already earned Rs.2.70 crore much higher than the target. Of late, several vehicle owners are willing to bid for fancy registration number, leaving no stone unturned to secure the desired registration numbers.
It is a mix of many things. Some people believe in numerology, while others consider it as a matter of pride to own a fancy registration number.
Many do not mind shelling extra money to get their desired numbers and this has become a good source of income for the department, said a senior official.
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Further, there is a considerable increase in the vehicle registrations this year as well. Post bifurcation, those who, usually used to buy a car and register the vehicle in Hyderabad are now buying vehicles here and registering them here.