Maharashtra Government has announced that private car registrations in the state stand cancelled till May 1, 2021. In addition, all the learning license and permanent license tests have been cancelled by the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in the state. This information was confirmed by Avinash Dhakne, Transport Commissioner, Maharashtra. There is still more than a week left in May 1 and the decision of banning registration of private cars could adversely affect the economy which is still in a recovery mode due to COVID-19.
“We are registering transport vehicles and completing pending work which can be done online,” Dhakne said. Though, the state government has exempted essential service vehicles like ambulances from this as they can be registered by following the special directives. Besides the ambulances, any other vehicle used for medical and other emergencies during Covid-19 can also be registered. Another official said, “With the shutdown in registrations and uncertainty over whether lockdown will be lifted on May 1, it will not only hit private vehicle registrations but the automobile industry too. At least 4,200 cars and bikes will not be registered due to the shutdown during these 10 days.”
"Those who have booked vehicles will have to wait for dealers to get them registered, and this will only begin once we get orders from the government,” said the official. The Maharashtra government has also announced that the expired driving licences and permits will now be valid until June 30, 2021. It said that “no new application will be accepted for duplicate licence and renewal of licences till further notice. But old applications on Saarthi software will be processed online and completed.” The RTOs in every city have completely banned visitors. “We do not want anyone to visit the office. We will work with few staff as per a government notification,” a regional transport officer from Mumbai said.
With inputs from ET Auto
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