The city of Pune has witnessed a remarkable resurgence in vehicle purchases during the key festive months this year, recording the highest registration numbers in the past four years. Data from the regional transport offices reveals a significant jump compared to the same period last year, indicating a strong return of the tradition of buying vehicles during auspicious occasions.
Festive Season Drives Record-Breaking Numbers
The festive period from August to November, encompassing Ganeshotsav, Dasara, Dhanteras, and Diwali, has traditionally been a peak time for vehicle purchases. This year, that trend came back with full force. According to the Vahan portal, the Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) registered a total of 128,947 vehicles during these four months. This marks a substantial increase of over 15% compared to the 111,839 vehicles registered in the same period in 2024.
The growth is even more pronounced in areas under the Pimpri Chinchwad RTO, where registrations surged by over 20%. From August to November 2025, 86,946 vehicles were registered here, up from 72,252 last year. A look at the historical data underscores the scale of this year's spike:
- 2023: Pune RTO - 107,831; Pimpri Chinchwad RTO - 67,395
- 2022: Pune RTO - 101,671; Pimpri Chinchwad RTO - 58,719
- 2021: Pune RTO - 63,520; Pimpri Chinchwad RTO - 39,517
Furthermore, the Pune RTO's total vehicle registrations from January 1 to December 24 this year have already surpassed the entire count for 2024, reaching 325,993 against last year's 302,359.
RTO Officials and Buyers Cite Shift in Trend
Officials from the Pune RTO attribute this surge to a combination of factors. "One can attribute the trend to frequent launches of new four- and two-wheeler models. The trend of buying during the festive season and auspicious dates made a comeback this year," stated an RTO official. They noted that in the post-Covid years, people had started buying vehicles at any time of the year, moving away from the wait for festivals. However, 2025 saw a return to the old pattern.
This sentiment is echoed by residents like Shailendra Tulpule from Hadapsar, who bought a new car during Dhanteras. He mentioned that while his brother bought a two-wheeler in 2023 believing the wait for festivals was unnecessary post-pandemic, he himself chose to delay his purchase until the festive season this year. "Uncertainties are still there, but some customs need to be followed, I feel," Tulpule said.
Traffic Experts Sound Alarm on Congestion and Pollution
While the sales boom is positive for the automotive sector, urban mobility experts have expressed deep concern. The influx of thousands of new vehicles onto Pune's roads exacerbates existing challenges of traffic congestion and air quality.
Sustainable mobility expert Pranjali Deshpande highlighted the systemic burden. "Every driver thinks that the traffic congestion is due to other vehicles and not mine. It is high time for the city to move towards a 'vehicle quota' system, determining the number of vehicles the city's roads can absorb," she told TOI. She advocated for higher vehicle taxes to maintain RTO revenue, which should then be invested in improving and operating public bus services.
Harshad Abhyankar, president of Save Pune Traffic Movement, pointed out that the ever-growing vehicle count is a clear failure to provide viable alternatives. "With the municipal elections around the corner, all political parties must take a stand... if they are not happy about it, the parties must make it clear that they are planning to reduce this number at least in the next five years," Abhyankar asserted. The record-breaking registrations have thus sparked a crucial debate about Pune's sustainable urban transport future.
