Number fanciers will have to pay more

 
While the fee for two-wheelers has been doubled, for four-wheelers and others, there is more three-fold increase in the fee in the present running series of registration numbers. The fee for advance booking of fancy numbers in the coming series too has been hiked. So far, there was only a flat rate of Rs 25,000 for advance booking for all category of vehicles.

Transport Minister R Ashok told reporters that the demand for fancy numbers is in the range of 1:10 ratio, especially for four-wheelers. “The department decided to hike the fee to cash in on the demand and increase its revenue. We are getting an annual revenue of around Rs 10 crore from the allotment of fancy numbers under the old fee structure. We are expecting around Rs 30 crore from the revised rates,” he stated. People go for their choice of numbers for various reasons including numerology and just for fun-sake.

The KSRTC is planning to construct a satellite bus stand in Malleswaram. A 10-acre land belonging to Mysore Lamps has been identified for the purpose. The bus stand will be constructed soon after the Industries Department agrees to sell the land to the Transport Department.

Ashok said the World Bank-funded Intelligent Transport System will be taken up soon in Mysore city. The Rs 21-crore project will put in place a modern fleet management system, automatic vehicle location, computer-aided dispatch for route optimisation and reduction in waiting time for passengers. The project will be completed in two years, he added.

Free bus pass to martyrs’ families

Ashok said free bus passes will be provided to the family members of war heroes (parents and wife). Details of the proposal will be worked out soon.