This story is from September 5, 2014

Noidawallahs flaunt cool car numbers

Noidawallahs are taking full advantage of the easy availability of premium car registration numbers, as the facility is literally a click away.
Noidawallahs flaunt cool car numbers
Noidawallahs are taking full advantage of the easy availability of premium car registration numbers, as the facility is literally a click away. The demand for these fancy, 'VIP' numbers has massively shot up after Noida's RTO made purchasing these numbers an online concept in March this year. Since the government has not introduced any bidding to get these fancy numbers, people in the city are going all out and flaunting their 'cool' car numbers.
We spoke to RTO officials and a few car owners with premium registration numbers to know more about this trend.
Four categories of numbers
Rachna Yaduvanshi, assistant regional transport officer, says, "The option of getting a VIP registration number was made online in March 2014. In fact, these are not exactly 'VIP', but fancy numbers that can be important to a person, while they may be just another number for others. The online facility has made it easier for people to select the preferred set or series of the number and make online payment for it."
"The numbers are allotted on first come, first serve basis," says Yaduvanshi.
These fancy numbers are the numbers in a particular series. The Uttar Pradesh Transport Department has divided these numbers into four categories — most attractive, most important, attractive and important numbers. The most attractive numbers are of three digits only 129, 700, 900 and so on. The most important numbers are of double zero digits like 1200, 1300 and 1400. Then there are attractive numbers which are two same numbers in sequence like 1133 and 2244. Important numbers are two numbers repeating in sequence like 1212, 1313, 1414, 9898.

KK Gautam, in charge, Registration of Regional Transport Office, says, "Noida mein fancy numbers ko lekar bahut maara maari hai. What can we say? If people have the money, let them buy what they want. Of late, the craze for fancy numbers has seen a rise and people are prepared to shell out any amount of money to own their favourite number. However, we don't have any highest bidding facility." He adds, "We have a total 456 series. We have four categories of registration numbers and the department has fixed their respective rates. There are most attractive numbers which are sold at Rs 15,000 each. The most important numbers are for Rs 7,500, attractive numbers for Rs 6,000 and important numbers for Rs 3,000. Most attractive numbers, which are of the Rs 15,000 category, have the highest demand because these are in three digits, while in Rs 3,000 - the important category - is also quite popular. We don't sell these numbers in a particular order. It depends on the series, and after one series is over, another one begins. The current series is the UP AV series."
Premium numbers a revenue-churner for RTO
Talking about the revenue, Gautam tells us, "These series are a money-churner for the government. The revenue generated through the sales of special registration or VIP numbers is very high. The Noida Regional Transport Office (RTO) has recorded a revenue of Rs 22.44 lakhs through registration of these premium numbers. As the numbers and prices are fixed, it's the same for all the series. In our last series, the Rs 15,000 registration category generated Rs 6 lakhs, in Rs 7,500 category, we made a profit of Rs 6.9 lakhs, in Rs 6,000, it was Rs 6.24 lakhs, and in Rs 3,000 it was Rs 3.30 lakhs."
These numbers depend on personal choice of people
So, what is it that makes the Noidawallahs opt for these fancy numbers? Gautam says, "Some have a craze for number seven, while a few others have favourites like number five or one. It is about the choice of people and the numbers don't necessarily have to appear in a sequence. Sometimes, they ask for a particular number after consulting a numerologist or a number that they find lucky - a birth date or for prestige."
Amit Arora*, a resident of Sector 11, says, "All my cars' numbers are the same as the date of birth of my mother. I think she's lucky for me and as a way of showing respect, I make it a point that all my cars' numbers are the same as her date of birth."
Vijay Singh*, a resident of Sector 31, says, "My date of birth is 19, and I feel that it's my lucky number. Even my astrologer asked me to buy things that have number one (adding both the digits of number 19) or number 19 associated with them. So, all the cars that I've bought so far have number 19 in the registration number."
Sanjay Bhatia*, who lives in Beta 1, Greater Noida, says, "I like number seven, plus it's considered to be a lucky number. And if by paying some money, I can get a premium number, then why not? These numbers draw a lot of attention and look cool, too."
(*Some names have been changed)
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