GST cut: Chandigarh adds nearly 10,000 new vehicles this festive season
Chandigarh has added nearly 10,000 new vehicles during the September-October festive season.
A total of 9,642 vehicles were registered from the first day of Navratri (September 22) till the end of October in Chandigarh, as per details with the Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA).
RLA officials attributed the recent GST cut on automobiles as the primary reason for the spurt in vehicle sales in the Union Territory.
On Dhanteras (October 18), as many as 119 cars and 307 two-wheelers were registered. Similarly, on Choti Diwali (October 19), 408 two-wheelers and 71 cars were registered.
During Navratri (September 22 to October 1), 1,630 two-wheelers and 1,560 four-wheelers were registered.
Speaking to The Indian Express, Pradhuman Singh, Director, Transport Department, said, “The GST cut has encouraged several people to buy vehicles this time.”
Last year, during the festive season, 7,862 vehicles were added to the existing fleet in Chandigarh.
Tejas Singh Oberoi, who owns the oldest Royal Enfield dealership in the region, said, “GST tax cut has been the sole reason to drive this market boom for automobile dealers. It has helped us to get more footfall and see a record number of sales. We have sold more than 1,500 bikes since the start of September, and we see this number rising. The demand has increased so much that the manufacturers aren’t able to keep up with it. For us personally, we have increased our staff to keep up with this demand, and it has helped to create more jobs in our sector. Whereas earlier, many dealerships were cutting jobs. This GST benefit has been a special Diwali gift which we will remember for years to come.”
He added, “This time we really have seen record sales. After COVID, this is the highest-ever sale we have witnessed. Our sales are up 115 per cent year on year (if we compare during festival season).”
Chandigarh added around 4.69 lakh vehicles since 2014
From 2014 to 2024, Chandigarh added approximately 4.69 lakh vehicles to its already crumbling infrastructure.
Experts said that even as there have been discussions and debates to strengthen the public transport on the lines of countries abroad, Chandigarh residents prefer personal vehicles like cars and two-wheelers.
