KL 01 vs KL 07: Thiruvananthapuram edges out Ernakulam in vehicle registration race

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thiruvananthapuram has overtaken Ernakulam to become the region with the highest volume of vehicle registrations in Kerala, displacing the long-standing leader, the KL 07 series.

The Thiruvananthapuram Regional Transport Office has launched the 'KL 01 DL' series for new registrations. In contrast, the Ernakulam RTO, which serves Kochi city, is currently in the final stages of the 'KL 07 DK' series, with officials currently issuing numbers ranging from 5901 to 8399. In Thiruvananthapuram, applicants are currently booking up to the DL 500 mark, while select remaining numbers from the previous DK series are also being issued.

Transport officials attribute the shift in standing primarily to administrative decentralisation in Ernakulam. The establishment of several new sub-RTO offices within the Ernakulam region has effectively distributed the volume of vehicle registrations, thereby reducing the figures reported at the main city office. By comparison, Thiruvananthapuram city is served by only one nearby sub-RTO office, located at Kazhakoottam, keeping the registration load concentrated at the main office.

Additionally, officials noted that the capital city has witnessed a consistent rise in the number of individuals purchasing multiple vehicles, a trend that has further contributed to the increased registration volume in Thiruvananthapuram.