PUNE: The number of vehicle registrations has soared 75% to 10,500 at the Pune regional transport office (RTO) this Dasara as compared to around 6,000 during the same period in the pre-Covid year of 2019. Over last year, the enrolments have almost doubled at the Pune RTO this festive period.
Pune RTO officials said the actual number of vehicles sold during the festive period could be even higher, considering that electric two-wheelers with a maximum speed of 25 kmph do not require registration at their office. Pimpri Chinchwad RTO officials said they were still compiling the figures.
“The registrations have been much higher during the fortnight to Dasara as compared to the previous years. The actual number of vehicles been bought is expected to be even higher as people have been buying a large number of electric two-wheelers, which don’t require an RTO registration. We are looking towards even higher registrations during the upcoming Dhanteras and Diwali festivals,” an RTO official told TOI.
The Pune RTO this year recorded registrations of 10,501 vehicles of different kind as compared to 5,912 during the same period last year. In the Dasara period of 2020, the registrations stood at around 6,500 (see box).
“Of the total number of vehicles registered this year, two-wheelers stood at 5,914, followed by 2,984 cars. In 2021, as many as 3,649 two-wheelers were registered followed by 1,766 car enrolments,” the official said.
Another Pune RTO official said the number of electric two-wheeler registrations this Dasara was around 800 as compared to around 350 during the same period last year. “The registrations of electric cars hit 40 this festive period as against just five during the same period in 2021. These numbers are for electric vehicles (EVs) with a maximum speed of 25 kmph, which makes their registration mandatory,” the official said.
Pune RTO Ajit Shinde said more people were warming up to EVs. “Overall, the vehicle registrations have been good and we expect it to rise during the upcoming festivals,” he said.
An electric two-wheeler dealer claimed of selling more than 200 e-bikes in the last fortnight. “The sale has been far higher for me this Dasar period as compared to the same period last year. With fuel prices on a high, including that of CNG, EVs come as a respite for many as it is a one-time investment and the cost recovery is faster. More people are inclined to buy the less powerful EVs as there is no registration process involved. With less speed, the chances of mishaps are minimal too,” the dealer said.
Vishrantwadi resident Girish Joshi, who bought an electric two-wheeler for his daughter this Dasara, said, “She has started working and I chose the electric vehicle for her as it has less speed, is compact in size and battery operated. Considering the traffic conditions, bad roads, high fuel costs and rash driving, the slow speed two-wheelers are safe,” he said.
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