out of fashion

Bhubaneswar, Aug. 31: The change in vehicle registration code from OR to OD will be effective in Odisha from tomorrow.

The Odisha commerce and transport department has directed all the 31 transport areas of the state to enforce the new registration code. The change has been necessitated following the change in the spelling of the state’s name from Orissa to Odisha in November last year.

The department issued a notification on June 21 for the change of code on vehicle number plates. The department has, however, stated that vehicles, purchased between June 21 and August 31, need not change their registration codes. Sources said more than 32 lakh of vehicles, including four-wheelers and six-wheelers, had been registered till August 31.

Only vehicles to be purchased after September 1 will be provided with the new registration codes. The department has also allotted 31 new registration symbols to 31 transport areas, which will follow the new registration code “OD”.

The Union government has given its nod to the proposal made by the Odisha transport department to change the registration code to OD from OR.

After getting consent from chief minister Naveen Patnaik for the change of code, the proposal was sent to the ministry of road transport and highways for approval. “As the name of the state does not have an “R”, it becomes essential to change the registration code. The enforcement was delayed because of the time taken in the modification of the software needed for preparation of smart cards,” said an official of the department.

“Though the move to change the registration numbers is a good one, the authorities must ensure that the vehicle owners are not confused by two types of registration codes,” said Kalandi Barik, a resident of Bhubaneswar.