Telangana RTA rakes in Rs 54 crore in 9 months thanks to fancy number frenzy
Hyderabad, September 22: The allure of unique registration numbers has proven to be a lucrative source of revenue for the Road Transport Authority (RTA) in Telangana, with a staggering Rs 53.9 crore already collected from the auction of sought-after numbers in the districts of Hyderabad, Rangareddy, and Medchal, even before the onset of the festival season sales.
Officials anticipate that the RTA is well on its way to surpassing its 2022 earnings of Rs 72.7 crore from these fancy registration numbers, given the current pace of revenue generation. Among the most coveted numbers are 9999, reminiscent of Bond-style 0001, 0007, and 0009. Throughout this year, substantial bids have poured in for 9999. In August, the Khairatabad RTO recorded the highest bid, an astonishing Rs 21.6 lakh, while the Kondapur RTO witnessed a bid of Rs 12.1 lakh for the same number. In Malakpet, an individual paid Rs 9.9 lakh to secure the coveted 9999.
Another high-value number contributing to Khairatabad RTO's earnings was 0009, fetching a top bid of Rs 10.5 lakh, also in August. According to a senior RTA official, the number 9 is often considered lucky, making 9999 an attractive choice among car owners, especially among industrialists, construction companies, and institutions. The RTA experienced a windfall on a single day in August when 9999 fetched Rs 21.6 lakh, 0009 went for Rs 10.5 lakh, and 0001 was secured for Rs 3.01 lakh, resulting in a cumulative earning of Rs 53.3 lakh on that day alone, as revealed by a senior official of Khairatabad RTO.
Furthermore, it has been noted that individuals are now bidding on even random numbers for sentimental reasons, such as birthdays. These bids, though often lower in value, ranging from Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,000, contribute to the RTA's overall revenue, particularly for two-wheelers and non-luxury cars.
"In fact, officials said that many are now bidding for even random numbers, though their values are much lower than those with a 9." stated a senior official of Khairatabad RTO.
The growing trend of seeking unique registration numbers is proving to be a substantial revenue stream for the Telangana RTA, and it continues to attract a wide range of bidders seeking that exclusive license plate number.
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- With inputs from agencies
