15 February,2024 07:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Apoorva Agashe
Representation pic
The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways generated revenue of Rs 41.73 lakh in five days as people rushed to get customised numbers. According to the Regional Transport Office (RTO), it received 234 applications. "A total Rs 38.22 lakh was collected as government fees and the amount went up to Rs 41.73 lakh after bidding took place," said an official.
The existing MH-03EF series which had customised and VIP numbers had been closed and a new series MH-03EL was launched by the RTO on February 6. "This year we are getting an overwhelming response. People are coming in large numbers to get their favourite numbers," said Vinay Ahire, an RTO official.
According to the data, numbers like 0901, 5050, 3333, 1111 and 6699 had generated a revenue of Rs 3.51 lakh each and the RTO received at least 11 applications for these numbers. "Most people choose to get fancy numbers or recurring numbers like 3333. Earlier, the practice was to stylise the number to make it appear like a word in Marathi. However, this trend has declined," said an RTO officer.
As per the data, one person paid Rs 4 lakh to acquire the number 0001. "Interested candidates have paid from R5,000 to R4 lakh to freeze their customised numbers," said an officer.
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According to the officer, the process of the auction is very well explained on the website. "Interested candidates would first pay the amount and if two or more candidates have expressed interest in the same number, we asked them to send us a Demand Draft of an additional amount in a closed envelope. We then open all the envelopes and only the highest bidder is informed. The Demand Drafts of other candidates are returned," the officer said while explaining the auction process to mid-day.
"The last series got exhausted and a total of 229 customised and special numbers were frozen by 234 people till February 12. For some numbers, a bidding process was conducted while other numbers were allotted as there were single candidates. People gathered in large numbers as we had issued press releases and explained the process," added the officer.
