Delhi Cabinet has approved allotment of fancy registration numbers for four wheeled private vehicles through auction. The proceed funds will be used for public welfare purposes.
“The amount such accumulated would be transferred to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund for enhancing the sphere of grant during natural calamities and for the needy persons facing hardships,” sheela dixit saus at a press briefing after Monday’s cabinet meeting.
Under the new system, the minimum reserve price (MRP) for the number 0001 will be Rs.5 lakh. Similarly, MRP for category 2 numbers 0002 to 0009 will be Rs. 3 lakh each, while that for category 3 number like 0010 to 0099, 0786, 1111, 7777 and 9999 will be Rs.2 lakh each.
The MRP for the last category which includes fancy number like 0100, 0111 upto 8000, 0108, 1008 and 1313, will be Rs.1 lakh each. Any other specific number, which doesn’t belong to any of the above categories, will have an MRP of Rs.20,000.
According to Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, every motor vehicle must be registered and carry a registration number. However, to facilitate the new system of registration of vehicles, a new rule — 34 A — will be incorporated in the Delhi Motor Vehicles Rules, 1993.
Under the new system, the vehicles of the VIPs as well as the vehicles of state and union government departments will be entitled for allotment of fancy numbers without payment of additional fees.
Diskhit said that the new system will overcome the ongoing irregularities and would ensure overall transparency.
The proposal to give special registration numbers to vehicles – on payment or – worse – as a privilege, is totally undemocratic. On the road, all citizens must be treated as equal. Special number plates mark out moneyed, or privileged, citizens; and the police would naturally hesitate to take action against them in case of a violation.
Even the shoddy rationale of raising funds is abandoned in the case of VIP’s etc. Red lights on top of vehicles are bad enough. The more our hypocritical ruling classes talk of the ‘aam adami’ the busier they are in helping themselves to perks and privileges, and distancing themselves from the ordinary citizen.
This is a fit case for a PLI.