Image Courtesy: Mid-Day.com
Want a new car, but too attached to your old ones numbers? A foreseeable Government Act will make it possible for you to have the best of both worlds
It has happened with many of us, at some point or the other. You want to replace your ragged old buggy with some hot new wheels. But there is a catch! You can't let go of your licence plates. Memories maybe or superstitions, whatever the reasons behind the obsession; but you want to hold on to them. Well, it seems the government has read your mind.
In a recent communique to various states, the Centre has ordered that a person be allowed to retain the registration number of a vehicle that he sells off or scraps. So far in such a scenario, the number would be dumped.
The move will benefit thousands of those individuals, who, while buying new vehicles, want to retain their old car numbers becauseof sentimental or numerological reasons. VIPs with fancy registration numbers too have a reason to celebrate.
"It is a fantastic idea," said Riddhima Kapoor, daughter of Rishi and Neetu Kapoor, who is now married and settled in Delhi. "Sometimes people are very particular about the things bought by their parents and grandparents and during their days of struggle. I think I won't sell of my car or will not scrap its number, which is gifted to me," she told MiD DAY.
Singer Shibani Kashyap concurred. "Why not, it's a great idea. You are used to seeing the same number of your car. It is also part of your identity. So, it is a wonderful idea," she said.
As per the latest Surface Transport Ministry order, if someone sells his car to another person, the seller can retain the old registration number and the buyer will have to apply for a new number for the same car. In the case of scrapping of the vehicle, the person will have to present the record before the local RTO. Only then will the user be allowed to attach the old number to a new car. The charge is expected to be nominal, but it's the prerogative of the state governments.
"I think it's a very good decision. Several times, the number plate of a vehicle is a part of the owner's identity. I have an ambassador car bought in the 80s with the registration number DIE- 1. I wanted to register this number for my new car but couldn't do that because of government rules. Now I am happy," said, Diljeet Titus, a Delhi-based lawyer, who owns 50 vintage cars.
"The system is there in a number of European countries. The owner is identified with the registration number of his vehicle. It will also help in curbing incidents of car theft. Police can anytime ask the user for ownership documents. But a grey area remains; state governments will have to formulate a stringent transition policy so that the procedure is not misused," said, B Bhanot, former director, Automotive Research Institute of India (ARAI).
"As per the new rule, state governments may allow a motor vehicle owner to retain the registration mark of his old vehicle on a new one owned in his name after the sale or scrapping of the old vehicle. Where the old vehicle is not being scrapped, the state government will have to assign a new registration number to it, to make it eligible to ply on the roads," reads the surface transport ministry order for principal secretaries and commissioners of all the states and union territories.
A senior transport department official in Delhi said, "The software of registration of vehicles, which is provided by the National Informatics Centre, will have to be modified. So, it will take some time to be implemented. But it definitely is a good move."
A senior surface transport ministry official said, "The Maharashtra government even tried to amend the state motor vehicle rules sometime back. Now the ministry is prepared to go ahead with it."