Kochi: The vehicle population in the state which was growing at an average rate of over 10 per cent annually for years, has showed a downward growth trend for the financial year 2015-16.
As per the latest figures released by the Motor Vehicles Department, a total of 8, 60, 210 vehicles were registered in the financial year 2015-16 as against 8,74, 804 vehicles in the corresponding period the previous year.
While the total registration of motor cycles in 2014-15 was 6, 26, 998, those registered in 2015-16 showed a slight downfall – 6, 04, 233. However, a total of 1, 84, 941 cars were registered in 2015-16 as against 1,75, 198 the previous financial year.
Non-transport vehicles registered in 2015-16 was 7, 96, 401, a fall by 11, 318 when compared to the previous year. The total transport vehicles in 2015-16 were 63, 809 as against 67, 085 the previous year.
“Now most households own a vehicle. In fact the vehicle population has exceeded the number of households. Now purchases are made mainly to upgrade to higher luxury vehicles. Also the road density has risen to 1417 km/ 100 sq km.
That explains the downward trend,” a senior MVD official said. Meanwhile, heavy passenger vehicles almost doubled in 2015-16 with the KSRTC and luxury private operators going for multi-axle buses, mainly that of Volvo and Scania. “A total of 1644 such vehicles were registered in 2015-16 as against 850 the previous year,” the study said.
The number of autorickshaws registered too recorded a decrease – 23,230 in 2015-16 as against 27,746 in 2014-15. However, the goods vehicles that were rolled out registered an increase – 23, 033 in 2015-16 as against 22, 943.
