Srinagar, June 24: Breaking the previous highest bid for a vanity registration number, a Non-Resident Kashmiri (NRK) has paid a whopping Rs 1. 60 Lakh—the highest ever amount—for a vanity number, JK01P-0001, for his Sports Utility Vehicle.
 Sources in the Regional Transport Office Kashmir said that the NRK (name withheld) outbid another bidder who was ready to Pay 1.55 Lakh for the number during the bidding process.
 The NRK got the registration number of the new series for his brand new Tata Safari Dicor.
 “This is the highest bid for a registration number in J&K state till date and has broken all the previous records,” said an official.
 According to officials, the previous highest bid in the state was Rs 1 Lakh which was recently paid by a woman, Sunita Sharma of Gandhi Nagar, Jammu. She paid the amount for registration number “JK02AP-0001.”
 However, the previous highest bid for a vanity number in Valley was Rs 70,000.
  In 2009, a Jammu-based businessman had paid Rs 85, 000 for the number, JK02 AK-47.
 Officials at RTO said the vanity and VIP numbers these days are in much demand and people are ready to pay big money for these.
 “Such interest in the vanity numbers is unprecedented. Earlier only rich would pay for these numbers, but now middle class people also show greater interest in getting these numbers,” they said.
 The vehicle owners usually pay Rs 2000 to 3000 more for numbers like ‘1111’ or ‘2222’, but these days bidding for these numbers is also high.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Jun 2010 21:30:00 Mecca time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 24 Jun 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 25 Jun 2010 00:00:00 IST