New Bharat Series for vehicle registration

Topic- Government Policies and Interventions [GS Paper-2]

Context- In order to ensure seamless movement of personal vehicles across India, 24 States and Union Territories have rolled out the new Bharat Series (BH-series) for vehicle registration.

Key Highlights 

• Recently the 41st Transport Development Council (TDC) meeting was held in Bengaluru.
• Since the inception of the policy, more than 20,000 vehicles have been registered in 24 different States and UTs.
• The government has recently released a new vehicle registration regime that will free vehicle owners from the re-registration process when they shift from one State or Union Territory to another.
• Also to demonstrate the need for seamless movement of tourists across the country without stoppage at various checkpoints and payment of taxes as per local or State regulations, the initiatives taken by the road ministry have been a success with more than 30,000 permits and 2,75,000 authorisations already granted till the recent time.
• The State Governments are encouraged to revisit the speed limit restrictions in urban and semi-urban areas to provide seamless traffic movement.
• While the speed limits for National Highways should be at least 100 km per hour on four-lane roads, the respective speed limits for two-lane roads and city roads should be 80 km per hour and 75 km per hour respectively.

BH Series Registration 

• The BH-series is an effort of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways in order to facilitate seamless transfer of vehicles.
• Vehicles with a BH registration mark do not require assignment of any new registration mark when the owner of the vehicle shifts from one state to another.
• Vehicle registration facilities under the series are available on a voluntary basis to Defense personnel, employees of Central or State Government, Central or State Public Sector Undertakings and private sector companies or organizations, having their offices across four or more States or Union territories.
• Also Motor vehicle tax is levied for two years or in multiple of two. 
• After completing fourteenth year, this tax will be imposed annually and it will be half the amount that was charged earlier for that vehicle.

Transport Development Council (TDC)

• Transport Development Council (TDC) is the highest body to advise the Government on all matters related to roads and road transport.
• The Union Minister of Road Transport & Highways acts as the Chairman of the Council.
• The council meets at least once a year.

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