According to figures collated from the Public Vehicles Department in Beltala, Kasba, Bidhannagar and Behala (covering the entire city), there were 32,128 units sold between Jan and April. The figure was a 15% jump from last year's, when 27,346 vehicles were registered in the same period, and 14% higher than 2022's 27,368 vehicles.
"This year had the most vehicle registrations in the first four months in the city," said a transport department official, who expected the trend to continue the rest of the year, "barring any unforeseen event". If this impetus continued, he said, 2024 should be a record year overall, with more than 90,000 vehicles sold and registered.
Kolkata's upward trajectory has bucked the national trend, where the auto sector is on a month-on-month dip of 2% and a year-on-year decline of 6% in sales.
'Surge driven by paucity of buses'
Transport economist Partha Ghosh told TOI, "It appears that the trend of commuters opting for personal transport during the pandemic is still going strong."
He added, "Perhaps the paucity of buses has also fuelled the demand for personal modes of transport. This might look positive for the economy but it is bad for the transport ecosystem."
Transport department officials were not surprised by the sales surge. "Since the pandemic, the growth of the automobile sector has largely been driven by personal vehicles, like two-wheelers or cars, as public transport vehicles, like buses, have been on a decline," an official said.
Aritro Basak, an automobile dealer, said a chunk of Kolkata's record-breaking vehicle sales was linked to livelihood. "A large number of two-wheelers are engaged as taxis, delivery vehicles for food and goods, and other services. So, along with the sale of vehicles, we are also expecting a growth in livelihood and economy. Car sales add muscle to the state's economy," he said.
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