i have always thought about maintaining a record of unusual things happening, not just to me but all around me. Just before coming to this new City ("Of Dreams") as one may read when going through interviews of the "Achievers", i was very excited. New City, new people, new friends, new challenges, all new red tapes, new level of pollution and much more.
Sales Tax?
Did I not pay the Sales Tax while buying the car from an authorised dealer? The invoice speaks for it.
Oh yes ma'am, you did. So now you have to produce the original invoice for us to verify your claim.
Point taken. So here it is..
No, no, you have to take it to the Sales Tax office in Mazgaon..
Where is this "Gaon" in this shimmery city?
Far South.
That means a whole day is gone and that too without the guarantee of getting the work done for reasons like the concerned person being absent(for that particular day, or may be for quite a period) or not being in his seat, etc etc.
Ok, Ok, what about the other taxes? and how do I know how much i have to pay?
You can pay it all in the regional RTO in the respective counters.
Thank you so much.
Keep my card, you might need my help.
DAY ONE. (Actually day two, if we consider the first day spent enquiring the agents who sits outside the RTO).
On reaching the RTO, one asks at the first available counter about where to get the information, somebody from the other side of the meshed and webbed window gives an obscure response, which takes some time to hit the brain. The search for the counter begins. Not a single counter window has been labelled properly, so one keeps on asking and keeps moving. Then one reaches that point.
Keep moving.
Where do i pay all these taxes?
There are counters, please do find out. Who is next?
Keep Moving.
Go home. Get photocopies of all the documents.
Kaam hua?
Just started. I was just wondering if you could help me.
We are here for you only..
These are the documents. And this is....
Where is the affidavit for address proof?
Now what is this again?
Since you dont have the required evidence of being a resident of this city...
But what about the leave and license agreement?
No, usse kaam nahi hoga..
You make it then......
300 rupees for that.
What? and how much for your help?
Paltry sum of Rs. 4000 inclusive of that 300.
Thoda kam karo.
Ma'am inflation ka haal dekha hai?
To mere liye inflation inflation nahi hai kya?
No one will work for even 100 less than this. This is the rate. Otherwise just imagine, you have to go to Mazgaon, then all these different counters, to the notary for affidavits, and ......
Ok, wait, I am fine with your rate. How much in advance?
1000.
To beat inflation for the agent, your purse goes deflated.
So come tomorrow with 2 photos of the owner of the car as well and fill up this form and sign here and here and here.........
I went all out in the internet to find all about Mumbai, precisely the suburbs. My findings: as far as information regarding Mumbai is concerned, you dont get much by googling.Yes, much is a comparative term and here i cant hold back myself from comparing Mumbai with our good old New Delhi.
All the previous experiences of the past few months are really a matter of past, so let me not dig them up right now, i can take all the time to ruminate. The current incident was a mind teaser. This is about my car that i have brought from delhi. Once the car reached mumbai, rule says, i have to pay a number of taxes for it. Rule is a rule.I must pay it. And what are those? It's Octroi, Road tax, Entry Tax, and Sales tax.
All the previous experiences of the past few months are really a matter of past, so let me not dig them up right now, i can take all the time to ruminate. The current incident was a mind teaser. This is about my car that i have brought from delhi. Once the car reached mumbai, rule says, i have to pay a number of taxes for it. Rule is a rule.I must pay it. And what are those? It's Octroi, Road tax, Entry Tax, and Sales tax.
Sales Tax?
Did I not pay the Sales Tax while buying the car from an authorised dealer? The invoice speaks for it.
Oh yes ma'am, you did. So now you have to produce the original invoice for us to verify your claim.
Point taken. So here it is..
No, no, you have to take it to the Sales Tax office in Mazgaon..
Where is this "Gaon" in this shimmery city?
Far South.
That means a whole day is gone and that too without the guarantee of getting the work done for reasons like the concerned person being absent(for that particular day, or may be for quite a period) or not being in his seat, etc etc.
Ok, Ok, what about the other taxes? and how do I know how much i have to pay?
You can pay it all in the regional RTO in the respective counters.
Thank you so much.
Keep my card, you might need my help.
DAY ONE. (Actually day two, if we consider the first day spent enquiring the agents who sits outside the RTO).
On reaching the RTO, one asks at the first available counter about where to get the information, somebody from the other side of the meshed and webbed window gives an obscure response, which takes some time to hit the brain. The search for the counter begins. Not a single counter window has been labelled properly, so one keeps on asking and keeps moving. Then one reaches that point.
Excuse me, i have some queries regarding bringing a car from another city.
Next counter, Mr.X.
Next counter, Mr.X.
Keep moving.
Mr. X?
Yes.
I want to know the rules about bringing my car to this city from delhi.
Pay the octroi, the road tax, entry tax and bring all the receipts alongwith the following documents.
Yes.
I want to know the rules about bringing my car to this city from delhi.
Pay the octroi, the road tax, entry tax and bring all the receipts alongwith the following documents.
A list of documents required is outside the frame of the window. So many??
Where do i pay all these taxes?
There are counters, please do find out. Who is next?
Keep Moving.
Go home. Get photocopies of all the documents.
DAY TWO.
One packs all the documents in a folder, goes to the photocopy shop and gets it done.Very carefully, No missing out a single original. No missing out a single photocopy.
DAY THREE.
One packs all the documents in a folder, goes to the photocopy shop and gets it done.Very carefully, No missing out a single original. No missing out a single photocopy.
DAY THREE.
One goes to the RTO. Luckily the same guy lands up in front.
Kaam hua?
Just started. I was just wondering if you could help me.
We are here for you only..
These are the documents. And this is....
Where is the affidavit for address proof?
Now what is this again?
Since you dont have the required evidence of being a resident of this city...
But what about the leave and license agreement?
No, usse kaam nahi hoga..
You make it then......
300 rupees for that.
What? and how much for your help?
Paltry sum of Rs. 4000 inclusive of that 300.
Thoda kam karo.
Ma'am inflation ka haal dekha hai?
To mere liye inflation inflation nahi hai kya?
No one will work for even 100 less than this. This is the rate. Otherwise just imagine, you have to go to Mazgaon, then all these different counters, to the notary for affidavits, and ......
Ok, wait, I am fine with your rate. How much in advance?
1000.
To beat inflation for the agent, your purse goes deflated.
So come tomorrow with 2 photos of the owner of the car as well and fill up this form and sign here and here and here.........
DAY FOUR.
One goes with all the documents and the photos and hands it over to Mr. Agent.
I will give you a call when i get the estimate of the amount that is to be deposited as taxes.You can pay by cash or DD.
DAY FIVE.
One goes with all the documents and the photos and hands it over to Mr. Agent.
I will give you a call when i get the estimate of the amount that is to be deposited as taxes.You can pay by cash or DD.
DAY FIVE.
Hello ma'am.
Ya.
Amount p for the octroi and amount q for the rest. DD to be issued for '............'.
I will come down tomorrow. Thank you.
One goes to the bank and gets the DD's made. Travelling time, Waiting time, Conveyance expenses, pollution and agony added to get this done.
And what about the deduction from your bank account? Good enough amount, to the tune of <= Rs. 50000 for a car less than 30 months old(yes, age of the car also matters) and cost price ex showroom approx Rs. 4,50,000.
Ya.
Amount p for the octroi and amount q for the rest. DD to be issued for '............'.
I will come down tomorrow. Thank you.
One goes to the bank and gets the DD's made. Travelling time, Waiting time, Conveyance expenses, pollution and agony added to get this done.
And what about the deduction from your bank account? Good enough amount, to the tune of <= Rs. 50000 for a car less than 30 months old(yes, age of the car also matters) and cost price ex showroom approx Rs. 4,50,000.
DAY SIX.
Just go and hand over the DD's to Mr. Agent with an assurance of getting his call for next level of torture. Oh yes, one pays him his next installment of Rs. 1000.
DAY SEVEN.
Surprise, Surprise!!Mr. Agent calls and tells to bring the vehicle for inspection on Wednesday (by this time, any day of the week is same for you) at 1pm.
DAY EIGHT.
One goes hoping that this is the second or third last time of her visit .Inspection is done and once again Mr. Agent assures that work will be done within 2 months. Another Rs. 1000 for Mr Agent.
DAY NINE.(Comes after 2 months, you see)
One calls Mr. Agent. His mobile number is unreachable. Keep trying.
DAY TEN,ELEVEN,TWELVE....follows.
Same outcome.
DAY FIFTEEN.
One goes to the RTO. The table from which Mr.Agent operates his business is barren and dust- laden, inquiry leads to the fact that he has not made himself visible for the past almost 2 months. One reasons out, might be due to some disease his refractive index has equaled that of air's and his vocal cord raptured, so neither is he visible nor is his voice heard. One comes back home, down and out. Count of days are lost and so is number of times Mr. Agent's number has been dialed. One keeps visiting the RTO now and then for any kind of available news.
DAY n.
An idea clicked and one went to the RTO and created a ruckus there with the agent whose table-office is adjacent to Mr. Agent's, only to come across the fact that all the documents are with him and that Mr. Agent has gone to his hometown for some kind of 'sudden' exigency.
One takes the documents to the right authority in RTO only to find out that the vehicle inspection has not yet been validated by the Inspecting Officer. And today, it's not his duty, some other officer is doing the rounds.
DAY (n+1).
One meets the officer, the officer in khaki says the paperwork is incomplete, one needs to get along the PUC, photocopy of PAN card and an endorsement on the NOC from the mother RTO (in this case, Gurgaon) saying that hypothecation clause can be maintained. Only after this he can sign and put the paper forward for further processing.
What the hell? Who will go to Gurgaon now and face another set of people on the other side of counter windows?
DAY (n+1).
One meets the officer, the officer in khaki says the paperwork is incomplete, one needs to get along the PUC, photocopy of PAN card and an endorsement on the NOC from the mother RTO (in this case, Gurgaon) saying that hypothecation clause can be maintained. Only after this he can sign and put the paper forward for further processing.
What the hell? Who will go to Gurgaon now and face another set of people on the other side of counter windows?
DAY (n+2).
Last few days were only grey cloud, now comes the silver lining. Mr. Agent finall picks up the phone. What prompted him to do so.....no, i dont want to analyse and all. That he picked up the phone, acknowledged my call, admitted that he should have informed me about his 'sudden' exigency annd most importantly assure me that my work will be done is made me feel like half the work is done.
Also, he whisked away the info that some endorsement regarding hypothecation is to be put on the NOC from Guragaon. He just said "Chodo na ma'am, inspector ko hum sambhal lenge".
Not only that, he came all the way (just 10 mins by auto rickshaw) to my place to collect some more documents (Original invoice of the car and photocopy of my PAN card) made me feel a little more than better.
FYI, the invoice is needed to get the clearance from the Sales Tax office.
So, this is the current state of the proceedings. One must never leave hope, so it is the best to follow the path of belief. None of the original papers are with me, so let us just hope that in a forthnight things will be straight and i can lay my hands on my beloved car related, soiled documents.
Wait and watch!
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