More than 796 vehicles registered per day in Pune this year, 100 more per day than last year

This contrasting pattern in driving licence issuance and vehicle registrations raises questions about the dynamics of transport preferences and regulatory factors in Pune.

Sanjeev Bhor, Deputy RTO said the city has seen a consistent rise in vehicle registrations after the pandemic. There must be other reasons that have contributed to the rise, he added, but Pune has limited public transport facilities due to which people buy vehicles.

He said, “Pune’s higher vehicle count is because of lack of an effective public transport system in the past, excluding Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Ltd (PMPML). Previously, public transport facilities such as local trains were not in popular demand, and metro trains are only a recent development.”

“As metro connectivity expands, more people will opt for public transport, which will consequently decrease the number of two-wheelers on the roads,” Bhor added.

Till the year end, as many as 3,98,202 licences have been issued—comprising 1,29,693 driving licences; 263,595 learning licences, and 4,914 international driving permits (IDP). In 2022, 453,110 licences were issued, including 146,081 driving licences, 146,081 learning licences, and 4,090 IDP.

Excluding learning and driving licences, there is an increase of 20.14 per cent in this year’s IDP, as compared with 2022. Explaining the cause of this growth, Bhor said that to avoid the complex procedure and to save time, people choose to acquire an IDP from the city itself.

He said, “Many students move overseas for study and need to drive there. Also, many tourists want to drive themselves. Getting an IDP makes it simpler for them to travel abroad.”

The IDP is exclusively issued to Indian citizens with a one-year validity, allowing them to drive in other countries based on a valid passport, visa, and an Indian licence.