Vehicle registrations up; auto, taxi decline sharply – Times of India
Kochi: Kerala recorded a positive growth in registration of vehicles in 2021 in comparison to 2020. However, registration of taxi cars and autorickshaws shows a sharp decline in 2020 and 2021 as compared to previous years, shows data. It has also been found that the registration of cars and two-wheelers remain robust with a slight drop when compared to 2019.
As many as 7,65,218 vehicles were registered in the state in 2021 as against 6,40,467 vehicles in 2020 and 9,13,510 vehicles in 2019. However, registration of vehicles has been coming down in the state each year as most households own at least one vehicle.
As two-wheeler and car registration remains robust, authorities fear the state will witness more accidents since most people prefer to stay away from public transport. “Covid has largely influenced people in choosing private transportation. This shows the sharp decline in registration of autos and taxis. Besides, the rising fuel prices also play spoilsport. A robust registration of cars and bikes is not good for the state in the long term. It calls for strengthening enforcement activities on the road,” said a MVD official.
Only 755 and 987 motor cabs were registered in 2021 and 2020, respectively, as against 7,962 in 2019 and 11,255 in 2018.
While only 7,763 passenger autos registered in 2021, it was 24,850 in 2019. “Private buses were in a declining trend even before Covid struck. With the pandemic, autos and taxis started witnessing poor ridership and many find it difficult to meet both ends. It has forced many existing auto and taxi operators to shift to other jobs. The government fixed the auto and taxi fares last time when the diesel price was at Rs 56. Now the fuel price has touched Rs 100. Besides, many autos and taxis converted to CNG earlier for a better income. However, absence of any notified agency for calibration of CNG vehicles in Kerala dissuaded many from converting to CNG,” said Harilal K J, district coordinator of Yatri online taxi service.
Experts feel that there should be a policy decision by the government to bring back passengers to public transport, thereby addressing accident and ecological issues.
“We have found that of 9.6 crashes happening on roads, one results in death. Grievous injuries in accidents rise on improved roads in the state. Even though the number of vehicles on the road dropped during the Covid period, the accident rate remained the same. The government can play a big role by introducing policies which can address all the issues related to the rise in vehicle population in the state,” said V S Sanjay Kumar, senior scientist in Natpac.
