Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Dec 16: There has been an increase in the number of vehicles being sold in the state as well as Dakshina Kannada district. The major increase in sales has been witnessed in two-wheelers and cars. The people are going in for own vehicles instead of public transport in order to be able to maintain social distance.

The vehicle showrooms and regional transport office were opened after lockdown in June last year. During the initial three months, the sale of vehicles was slow but from September on ward, the sale has been brisk.

In November 2019, about two lac vehicles had been registered in the state, and this month, the figure has gone up to 2.25 lac. In the city also, as against 2,800 vehicles registered in November 2019, the figure this time has crossed 3,000.

Because of sluggishness in financial situation, the sale of vehicles had been less during the last two years. This time, the outlook was bleak in view of corona pandemic but the sale of vehicles has proved the predictions wrong. Registration of passenger vehicles, trucks, and other vehicles used for the public transport has fallen.

In the city, every day, nearly 200 two-wheelers and 40 cars are registered every day, which is a 25 percent jump over the previous years. Regional transport office superintendent, K Chandrakala, confirms that there has been an increase in vehicle registrations. She says that this is a record as compared to recent years, and feels that people prefer to move in their two-wheelers or cars to avoid travelling by city buses and because of this, there has been increase in sale of vehicles.

At the state level too, registration of two-wheelers in October 2019 was 97,000 and 17,800 cars were registered. Bike sales touched 69,000 in October 2020 whereas 18,600 new cars were sold.