Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, December 12 2010:
In a tiny State like Manipur where the population is being estimated at about 25 lakhs, the number of motor vehicles so far registered at the Transport Department is nearly touching the two lakhs point.
According to a Transport Department source, number of vehicle registered till date is 1,98,889 the number will continue to increase at a rapid pace for 30-40 applications for registration are received at an average on every working day.
The record is said to include vehicles used by various State depts and Central security forces operating in Manipur even though tax is not levied from the latter.
Moreover, with the advancement of science and technology two-wheelers powered by electricity such as Energy moped have also arrived at the scene but yet to be entered to the registration record inspite of the fact that such variants are competing for parking space.
As per record upto March 31, 2010, there are a total of 10,460 heavy vehicles (trucks) in the State with 7138 of them in Imphal West district followed by Bishnupur district with 909 and Senapati the least at 159 .
Imphal West also has the highest number of buses at 1636 out of the total of 2078 with Senapati district having the least at only nine.
It is informed that 663 medium size passenger carriers (bus) are in service in the State while the total number of autorickshaw stands at 7316 .
Understandably number of two wheelers in the State occupies maximum volume of the Transport Department's record with the registration number reaching 13,9,675 out of which Imphal West is crammed with 10,8,547.The annual tax amount collected by the department is said to be a little over Rs 2.90 crores.
In addition to all types of motor vehicles, there are 7227 registered rickshaws in the State with each rickshaw paying an annual tax of Rs 75 .
Apart from the official record of registered vehicles, the Transport Department source speculated that there might be a large number of vehicles plying in the State without formal registration as there had been instances of theft of vehicle from within and outside the State.