Pune: The special BH registration numbersintroduced across the country by the Transport Ministry in 2021, have become a status symbol for city motorists who queue up at the regional transport office (RTO) daily and persuade officials to approve their documents.
“It is a fact that they have become very popular and are considered status symbols. Several people come to us with documents to get these numbers. They just want us to approve the documents no matter what “, Swapnil Bhosle, Deputy RTO. , told TOI.
Another RTO official said that around 20-25 people visit the office on an average daily with applications. “Every month we release a series of special registration numbers which can be purchased and if there is more than one applicant for a number an auction takes place. The advantage of BH numbers is that people do not have to pay any fees “There are applicants whose documents are not suitable and others who are not eligible to get these numbers, even if they come to the RTO to try to persuade the officials to. “approve their requests”, declared the responsible. .
TOI recently met two such candidates at the RTO office. One of them did not have proof of address with him. The other simply wasn’t eligible. “I have asked my landlord to provide me with a proper rental agreement, but he is delaying things. I desperately want the BH number for my two-wheeler. In addition to having many advantages, the number -even is different and stands out.” » said the Kothrud resident.
A private sector employee in Baner told TOI that he had four vehicles, including two two-wheelers, with BH numbers. “I was eligible and so I took advantage. The number starts with the year the vehicle was first registered followed by the letters BH, a four-digit number chosen at random by computer, then two alphabets between A and Z,” he said.
“The figures are only for public, central and private sector employees with transferable jobs, with several branches of their offices across the country. However, we also have local people who often come to us asking for these figures,” another responsible for the RTO. said.
The official added that so far there have been no reports of any unauthorized person receiving these numbers. “The documents are checked very carefully. Regarding high security number plates, it is possible that people break them and replace them with a fancy number plate, but we have not encountered such cases ” the official said.