Telangana begins vehicles registration with 'TS' code

Hyderabad: The transport department in Telangana Wednesday started registration of new motor vehicles with "TS" code allotted to the new state.

The officials began issuing registration numbers to the new vehicles. About 2,000 vehicles were registered in Hyderabad on the first day.

In the central zone of Hyderabad, the department issued first number TS 09 EA 0002 to a car. Vehicle owner Shiva Reddy was happy to receive the number.

The central government last week permitted the state government to register motor vehicles with TS code.

Earlier, it had given permission for registration of vehicles with "TG" code but the state government wanted "TS" instead of "TG".

The registration of new vehicles also began in nine others districts of Telangana, which came into existence as the 29th state of the country June 2.

Hundreds of people, who purchased new vehicles since June 2, were waiting for registration.

The districts have been allotted codes with unique number series. The registration in Hyderabad will happen under six different series depending on the zone. The neighbouring Ranga Reddy district has been allotted two series while the remaining districts will have one series each.

There are around 70 lakh vehicles in the state. The department has not taken a final decision on changing the registration numbers of existing vehicles with "AP" as the code.

Transport Minister P. Mahendra Reddy earlier said that all vehicles in tghe new st ate of Telangana should have new number plates within four months.