Maharashtra Registers 1.12 Lakh Vehicles During Navratri, Pune Tops With 12,752

Maharashtra recorded 1,12,814 new vehicle registrations during the 10-day Navratri festival this year, marking a decline of around 2 per cent compared with the corresponding period last year, officials said on Wednesday.

According to data shared by the state transport department, a total of 77,449 private two-wheelers, excluding mopeds, and 25,536 private cars were registered across 60 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) between October 11 and October 20.

The state had registered 1,15,125 vehicles during Navratri last year, indicating a moderation in purchases during this year's festive period. Officials attributed the decline to poor rainfall, drought conditions and uncertainty in the global financial environment, which may have affected consumer spending in both rural and urban areas.

The prevailing drought situation could have discouraged people in rural areas from purchasing cars and two-wheelers, while global financial uncertainties might have influenced buying decisions in urban centres, a senior official of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Department said.

Pune recorded the highest number of registrations, with 12,752 vehicles registered during the festival. The Pimpri-Chinchwad RTO, also in Pune district, followed with 8,887 registrations. Thane recorded 4,474 vehicle registrations, while Nashik reported 4,024 during the 10-day period.

The four RTOs in Mumbai collectively registered 13,160 vehicles. Mumbai Central accounted for 3,856 registrations, followed by Wadala with 3,586, Borivali with 3,206 and Andheri with 2,512.

Vehicle purchases traditionally rise during Navratri, with many customers booking cars and two-wheelers in advance and scheduling deliveries around Dussehra, considered an auspicious occasion to purchase vehicles and other assets.

However, the latest figures indicate a slight dip in festive-period registrations despite the seasonal preference for vehicle purchases.

The transport department's data covers registrations across the state's 60 RTOs during the specified period. Officials said economic uncertainty and weather-related challenges may have contributed to the lower numbers this year.