Over 1 Lakh Vehicles Registered in Just 6 Months in Thane District.

In just six months—from January 1 to June 30, 2024—Thane district witnessed over 1 lakh new vehicles hitting the roads, reflecting the rapid urban expansion and increasing dependence on private transport.

Thane topped the list with 52,600 new registrations, followed by Kalyan with 48,943 and Bhiwandi with 29,230. This is the highest number of vehicle registrations across all RTOs in Maharashtra. Compared to the same period in 2023, this year saw an increase of 14,578 vehicles. Officials from the regional transport department attributed this rise to improved road connectivity, the availability of more vehicle models, and growing urban migration. However, transport experts and city planners have raised concerns over the pressure this puts on the existing infrastructure. “There’s no serious attempt to regulate vehicle use. Without strengthening public transport and enforcing strict urban mobility planning, traffic and pollution will worsen,” warned Sudhakar Mahajan, a senior transport planner. Social activist Shrinivas Ghanekar pointed out that while some older vehicles may be off the roads, the sheer volume of new ones is alarming. “The government must act quickly to curb this rising trend,” he said. Urban planners stress the need for policy changes before the roads become unmanageable.