Pune RTO Temporarily Shifts to MH 61 Registration Code as Iconic MH 12 Series Runs Out

The Pune Regional Transport Office has decided to issue the interim code MH 61 for all new vehicle registrations in the city to prevent a complete halt in deliveries as the iconic MH 12 series reaches total exhaustion.

The decision was taken to keep vehicle deliveries running smoothly ahead of the peak festive season while transport authorities await final central government approval for a permanent alphanumeric registration format.

Under the current two-letter suffix system, two-wheeler series registrations have reached ZZ, while four-wheeler numbers in the ZW series have only a few thousand combinations left. With the city adding between 1,400 and 1,600 new vehicles every day, the remaining inventory of MH 12 numbers was expected to run out within a week.

To bridge the operational gap, the transport administration introduced the temporary MH 61 code. Officials confirmed that vehicle owners registered under the temporary code will have the option to switch back to the new MH 12 series once it is launched, upon payment of a nominal fee.

The interim arrangement follows a strong push from auto dealers facing severe delivery delays. Since strict enforcement rules were implemented earlier this year, dealerships face up to a three-month trade licence suspension if they hand over vehicles without completed RTO registration.

Transport officials said the permanent solution involves introducing an integrated digit-letter format, such as MH-12-1A, making Pune the first city in the country to adopt such a system. The Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways gave its in-principle approval to preserve the city’s distinct identity following representations from local representatives.

Implementation of the new alphanumeric system is expected to take two to three months as software changes are integrated into the central Vahan portal. A draft notification will be published shortly to invite public suggestions and objections before final rollout.

The new alphanumeric structure is expected to accommodate the city’s vehicle registration requirements for at least seven years without needing another code change. In the meantime, the RTO will issue a public notice detailing the transition procedures for dealers and vehicle buyers using the interim allocation.