DNA
 
Mumbai, Mar 6: Fancy or easy-to-remember numbers for two and four-wheelers will not be cheap anymore if the transport department’s proposal is accepted by the Maharashtra government. The much sought after numbers like 1, 786, 100 may soon come with a price tag no less that Rs 1 lakh.

The transport department has sent a letter to the government two weeks ago, urging it to revise the charges for VIP numbers. Currently, such numbers come for Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 for two and four-wheelers respectively.

The state coffers have raked in Rs 28 crore ever since the scheme came into existence in 1999. “The proposal demands hike in charges to curb the clamour for the fancy numbers and to add on revenue to the state exchequer. For some, such numbers are status symbol, while some others consider them lucky. Demand for certain numbers is so exhorbitant, that we have proposed categorization of the numbers,” said a transport official.

The numbers can now be availed in three categories. The first category comprises the a single digit — 1 — and will cost Rs 1 lac and Rs 25,000 for four and two-wheelers respectively. The second category will have numbers like 22, 222, 2222 and will cost Rs 50,000 (four-wheeler) and Rs 10,000 (two-wheeler). The third category, with numbers like 2, 3, ...9, 100, 600, 3636, will attract charges of Rs 25,000 and Rs 5,000 for four and two-wheelers respectively.

G S Gill, principal secretary, transport department, said, “I am not aware of any such proposal, but it, perhaps, would be an ideal solution to curb unnecessary lobbying for these numbers.”

Transport Commissioner Shyamsunder Shinde said if sanctioned, this might help the state earn an additional annual revenue of Rs 25 crore.