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GST cut: Chandigarh adds nearly 10,000 new vehicles this festive season

On Dhanteras (October 18), as many as 119 cars and 307 two-wheelers were registered in the Union Territory.

3 min readNov 2, 2025 07:08 PM IST

Last year, during the festive season, 7,862 vehicles were added to the existing fleet in Chandigarh.

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.

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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.

Post-COVID, more cars than two-wheelers

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Prior to 2020, more two-wheelers than four-wheelers were registered in Chandigarh. After COVID-19, however, residents began buying more four-wheelers to ensure private space.

In 2014, 29,859 two-wheelers and 21,476 cars were registered in Chandigarh, while 28,936 two-wheelers and 21,365 cars were registered in 2015. In 2016 and 2017, Chandigarh added 28,794 and 30,341 two-wheelers, respectively, while the corresponding figures for cars were 21,073 and 21,765.

All these years, the number of electric vehicles registered in the city was zero, except in 2017, when 13 electric cars and one electric two-wheeler were added.

In 2018, 2019 and 2020, as many as 29,698, 25,698 and 15,148 two-wheelers were registered in Chandigarh. As for new cars registered in these three years, the figures are 20,120, 18,975 and 15,402, respectively. However, after 2020, four-wheeler registrations overtook two-wheeler registrations.

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In 2021, as many as 20,437 cars were registered, while 16,527 two-wheelers were added. In 2022, there were 21,829 new two-wheelers and 25,415 new four-wheelers. In 2023, car registrations beat two-wheeler registrations again as 26,515 cars and 20,278 two-wheelers were added.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

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