Punjab launches a user-friendly e-auction policy in the transport department for fancy numbers

Chandigarh: In a major pro-people initiative, the Punjab government has introduced a user friendly e-auction policy in the Transport Department for reserved numbers (known as fancy numbers) thereby exempting the general public from visiting the registering authority office and participate in the process from their homes.

Divulging more details, the Transport Minister Razia Sultana said that this was a path breaking initiative of the Punjab government led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh to facilitate people. Ms. Sultana said that the e auction of reserved numbers (known as fancy numbers) would be done through VAHAN 4.0 web application (Designed & developed by NIC under MoRTH, Government of India supervision). She said that department has introduced this new user friendly e-auction process to make all reserved numbers available to the public 24X7 across the whole week. Ms. Sultana said that the registration for participation in e-auction would be open on every Sunday for three days i.e. (Sunday to Tuesday).

The Minister after the start of e-auction, bidding for the numbers would take place for the subsequent two days viz. Wednesday and Thursday adding that the payment period for successful bidder would be two days ie till Saturday midnight on the online e-auction platform. She said that this facility would be available on Gazetted holidays also. Ms. Sultana said that there would be a non-refundable registration fee of Rs 1000 for each reserved number to participate in e-auction and to further ensure transparency of bidding process, the results of successful as well as unsuccessful bidders would be uploaded on the VAHAN website and successful bidder would be informed through SMS and email.

The Minister said that the successful bidder would be required to deposit bid amount within three days from date of closure of bid, otherwise the number would be stand cancelled and would be available for next e-auction. She said that earlier a person was required to deposit 50% of reserve price which acted as a deterrent to public to participate as refund for unsuccessful bidder was an issue. Ms. Sultana said that successful bidder was required to get his reserved number assigned to the vehicle within 15 days from the date of issue of allotment letter, otherwise it would be stand cancelled and available for further e auction.

The Minister also said that this policy would allow all reserved numbers left un-auctioned in past, available for e auction and give opportunity to more applicants to get reserved numbers adding that now reserved numbers of active series would be available for bidding in e Auction throughout the year. She said that the detailed notification of the process is available on www.punjabtransport.org. Citing the benefits of the new policy, Ms. Sultana said that this transparent policy would give more choice to people and was affordable as only Rs. 1000 required was to participate as compared to 50% of reserve amount in previous system.