RTO festive bookings are back

Eyeing the slow but steady increase in vehicle sales and registrations, the state transport department in an unusual move has decided to reintroduce its special festive vehicle registration facility at all the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) during the Gudi Padwa holiday weekend beginning Friday.

This is in sharp contrast with the festive season towards 2011-end, when the country-wide trend of a drop in vehicle registrations  was reflected in the city and RTOs decided to observe holidays during most “traditional and auspicious days”.

While confirming the move, state transport commissioner VN More told DNA on Thursday that the department has decided to reintroduce the festive booking facility during the Gudi Padwa weekend, considering the rise in vehicle bookings in the last three quarters.

“Though not as per our expectations, there is certainly an increase in the percentage of bookings — both month-on-month and quarter-to -quarter. While we expected the increase to be between 15% and 20% in the current quarter, it has been about 10-12%.... There has indeed been an improvement in the number of vehicle registrations,” said More, adding, “All RTOs across the state are to be kept open on Friday and Saturday.”