With just 62 slots remaining, registration for fuel-based two-wheelers in Chandigarh is on the verge of closing for the year by Friday. Following this, a ban will be imposed on registering fuel-based two-wheelers in line with Chandigarh’s Electric Vehicle Policy.
The Chandigarh administration, taking into account the festive season and protests from two-wheeler traders, granted permission on October 18 for an additional 10 per cent of two-wheelers to be registered in the city, surpassing the annual cap of 12,076.
Out of this additional 10 per cent allocation, approximately 1,547 two-wheelers have already been assigned registration numbers as of Thursday morning, as reported by the Registration and Licensing Authority of Chandigarh.
The Electric Vehicle Policy sets a specific target for fuel-based vehicle registrations. Once this target is met, only electric two-wheelers can be registered. However, electric two-wheelers tend to be more expensive, and Chandigarh currently lacks the necessary infrastructure to support them.
This cap on registrations has sparked concerns among automobile dealers in Chandigarh, particularly during the festive season. They argue that it has led to substantial losses and will impact around 2,500 families, potentially resulting in job losses.
Chandigarh has about 15 automobile dealers who collectively sell approximately 20,000 fuel-based two-wheelers annually, with monthly sales rising to around 4,000 during the festive season. As for fuel-based four-wheelers, the administration has allowed a 13 per cent relaxation over the annual cap, permitting around 1,500 more such vehicles to be registered for the year.
