Chandigarh, March 6: Chandigarh has established a new benchmark for luxury registration plates. The Registering and Licensing Authority (RLA) auctioned the number CH01DD0001 for a staggering Rs 53.88 lakh, making it the priciest number plate in the history of the Union Territory.
The auction for the new CH01-DD series, conducted between March 4 and March 6, 2026, surpassed the previous record of Rs 36.43 lakh set only a year prior. Officials stated that the three-day e-auction involved 591 distinct numbers and generated a record-breaking cumulative revenue of Rs 4,48,87,000 for the administration.
Deputy Commissioner Nishant Kumar Yadav affirmed that the transparency of the digital bidding platform has encouraged higher participation and confidence among residents. He stated that the system provides a level playing field, which naturally drives revenue while meeting the city’s high demand for exclusivity. The DC maintained that the record-breaking figures reflect the soaring aspirations of Chandigarh’s citizens.
The demand for other choice numbers remained equally high, with CH01DD0003 fetching Rs 32.32 lakh and CH01DD0005 going for Rs 17.50 lakh. RLA Pradhuman Singh asserted that the proceeds from this latest auction are the highest ever recorded by the authority, attributing the success to a fair and competitive digital process.
Chandigarh currently houses approximately 15 lakh registered vehicles for its 13 lakh residents, adding an average of 100 new vehicles daily. Authorities maintained that the craving for premium plates has become a significant status marker, with the revenue from these auctions over the last five years rivaling the road tax earnings of several entire states.
