Chennai, Aug 29:
As many as 5,543 unclaimed and ownerless vehicles that have remained in Chennai for several years are set to be disposed of through electronic auction, with 1,936 vehicles already put up for e-auction on Friday.
The move is aimed at clearing a large number of vehicles that have remained unclaimed for prolonged periods and occupying space under government custody.
Authorities have identified a total of 5,543 vehicles for disposal through the e-auction process. Of these, 1,936 vehicles have been included in the first round of the auction.
The remaining vehicles will be taken up for auction after completion of the valuation process, officials said.
The vehicles had remained unclaimed for several years, with their owners either not coming forward to take possession or being untraceable.
The electronic auction is expected to provide a transparent mechanism for disposing of the vehicles while also helping authorities clear the accumulated stock.
The auction of the first batch of 1,936 vehicles marks a major step in the disposal process. The remaining vehicles are expected to be brought under the auction process in phases after their valuation.
The exercise will also help authorities free up space currently occupied by vehicles that have remained under custody for extended periods.
The e-auction system is increasingly being used by government agencies to dispose of unclaimed and seized assets through a formal and transparent bidding mechanism.
With more than 5,500 vehicles identified, the Chennai exercise is among the larger such disposal drives undertaken in the city in recent years.