Gudi Padwa marks a beginning of a new year as per Maharashtrian tradition. The city of Mumbai has witnessed a heavy rush in city’s RTO for registration of new SUV’s, two wheelers, hatchbacks and sedans. An RTO official stated, “We get requests from several car dealers 10 to 14 days in advance. They also pay the taxes a week ahead of registration and keep all the documents ready. The registration process begins a couple of days before the festival.” The newly registered vehicles are requested for deliveries today and tomorrow as an auspicious purchase in the new year.
As per sources , the RTO earns about Rs. 2 Crore in form of motor vehicle tax for the new registrations. Based on current taxation policy, the prevailing rates for petrol driven cars are somewhere between 9% and 11 %, whereas diesel versions are taxable somewhere in between 11% to 13%. Source in the RTO said, “Even after registering new vehicles for Gudi Padwa till Monday, our workload will continue for the next one week. There are buyers who will walk into a showroom on Gudi Padwa day and select a car or bike. They will then pay a booking amount on that day and get it registered with the local RTO within a week.”
Official from Andheri RTO stated that new vehicle purchase in Mumbai are usually on an all time high during festive occasions like Akshaya Tritiya, Gudi Padwa, Dussehra and Diwali. The local population strongly believes in undertaking new venture on such auspicious days. Some of the RTO that would were busy over the last week and this week is - Tardeo, Andheri and Wadala RTO. Special numbers would be available at an additional cost of about Rs 5,000 to Rs 50,000 to secure a special number plate depending on the list and category.
Source: TOI
