Dhanteras pushes demand for bikes, cars in Bihar

Patna, Oct 21: Craze for two- and four-wheelers in Bihar is such that many people have made booking for their new cars and bikes to be delivered Tuesday on the occasion of Dhanteras, an auspicious day for purchase.

Higher demand for cars and bikes this year has set a record compared to the last year's figures. But the gap between demand and supply is likely to disappoint many people who wanted the vehicles delivered on Dhanteras.

"It is impossible to deliver new cars to all of them who have made the booking earlier to get their delivery on the occasion of Dhanteras because demand is more than supply," said Himanshu Kumar, an official in a Maruti Suzuki showroom.

He said it is true that hundreds of cars and bikes will hit the roads in Patna alone Tuesday in the wake of Dhanteras.

"Nearly 400 Bullet bikes have been booked for delivery on Dhanteras from our showroom. But we will be able to deliver only 35 Bullet bikes as they are not available due to high demand," an official of Sukhmani Motors said here.

According to other showrooms of Bullet bikes, a total of 85 Bullet bikes will hit the roads in Patna Tuesday.

Himanshu Kumar said demand for the luxury cars also increased this year. But Maruti Suzuki's Alto models were mostly booked across the state for delivery on Dhanteras day.

"The sale of cars has increased from 25 to 30 percent this year compared to the last year," he said.

"We have booked 20 Zodiac Force cars for delivery Tuesday," Deepak Kumar, an official, said.

"The figures are much better this year as Mahindra & Mahindra's Bolero and Scorpio models have topped the popularity charts," he said.

Automobile expert Osama Khan said small cars and hatchbacks have always been in demand because of traffic congestion. These cars can be easily parked anywhere and have easy manoeuvrability.

Lakhender Mahto, a businessman, and his wife Meena Devi are a happy couple, as they are lucky to get the delivery of their car. "We have fulfilled our dream to get a car on the occasion of Dhanteras," Mahto said.

In a bid to attract more customers, most of the automobile companies have come out with discount offers this Diwali, and showrooms are giving gift hampers to the buyers.

But everyone is not lucky. Sanjay Kumar, a government employee, and his wife Sarita Devi were disappointed when they were informed that their car could not be delivered to them Tuesday.

"The demand for cars was so high that the dealers could not make all the deliveries. It could be made only after Diwali or by the end of this month," said an official of Alankars Motors.

IANS