MUMBAI: The state transport department on Friday issued a draft notification to hike fees for VIP numbers for cars and bikes in Maharashtra, with the most sought after number '1' set to become costlier by a lakh soon.
The department proposed a hike for VIP number '1' from Rs4 lakh to Rs5 lakh. If one wants to buy this number out of series (from future series if not available in present RTO series), the cost will go up three times. So, this VIP number may cost a maximum of Rs15 lakh in future.
The draft notification will be up for suggestions or objections which will be received by the additional chief secretary's office at Mantralaya, after which the state government will issue a final notification.
State transport commissioner Avinash Dhakne said once the proposal is approved by the government and a final notification issued, all 50 RTOs will have an online system for purchase of VIP numbers. "People will no longer have to come to the RTO to book a VIP number and pay. One can see a list of numbers online and make digital payments and book it," he said. Numbers are alloted on a first-come, first-serve basis.
For a two-wheeler, the proposed hike for '1' is from Rs50,000 to Rs1 lakh. In case of out of series, the user may have to pay Rs3 lakh for a motorcycle or scooter.
For special numbers 9, 99, 786, 999, 9999, the proposed fee is Rs2.5 lakh for cars and Rs50,000 for two-wheelers.
On an average, the city RTO earns Rs12-14 crore in revenue every year from sale of special numbers. "There are usually many takers for 1, which has fetched us Rs12 lakh as it was not available in the present running series on a few occasions and was purchased from a future series," said a RTO official from Mumbai.
