HYDERABAD: Blame it on easy auto finance schemes or the gross inability of the public transport system to provide efficient services to the commuters, automobile registrations in the twin cities are growing by leaps and bounds.

The cumulative number of cars and jeeps registered as on December 31, 2005 was 1,99,904 and the number has reached 2,10,918 till May 2006, maintaining an average of 1,835 four wheelers getting registered a month. The number of four wheelers registered in 2003-04 was 20,777 and for 2004-05 it was 23,258.

In the first half of 2006, it had gone up to 11,014, so much so officials expect it to reach an all-time high by end of the year.

The situation is no different with two-wheelers and trucks, as the figures reveal a sound increase of nearly 9,000 bikes and 800 goods vehicles every year.

Causes

"Many aspects can be attributed to the growth of private transport system. Expanding peripheral areas in the last two years, rise in corporate companies, educational institutions and easy auto finance schemes contribute to the explosive growth", says Joint Transport Commissioner B. Venkateshwarlu.

On the other hand, commuters blame the public transport system's inefficiency to cater their needs.

"Many residential colonies don't have public transport. For a population of over 60 lakhs in the city, there are only 2,500 and odd buses. Either cough up for the autorickshaws or walk all the way. This is taxing after a hectic day's work and hence two-wheelers are handy", says P. Anjaiah, a resident of Dwarakanagar, Uppal.

Euro-III vehicles

But, is there any solution to this rise in automobiles and it consequences?

Mr. Venkateshwarlu says they were only registering Euro-III certified vehicles since April last to keep pollution levels under check.

In the offing is a new urban transport policy, which will spell out better transport systems to meet the demand.

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