The Hindu Business Line : More time to make vehicles CNG-compliant in Mumbai

THE deadline is approaching for commercial vehicle owners who own vehicles over eight years old to either convert their vehicles so that they run on CNG or LPG or to shift the vehicle out of the Mumbai Metropolitan area.

The Bombay High Court in an order passed on March 3 has extended the time limit for conversion of those vehicles which are more than eight years old but not converted yet to run on CNG or LPG to December 31 on the condition that the transporters have to place the orders for CNG or LPG retro-fitment kits with approved conversion agencies latest by June 30.

Further, once past this date the vehicles will not be allowed to ply till they are so converted, except for the purpose of taking them to a workshop or a Registering Authority office.

In its order, the High Court has said that vehicle owners unwilling to convert their vehicles have the option of shifting their vehicles outside the limits of the Mumbai Metropolitan region before June 30 after obtaining permission from the Regional Transport Office.

As per the Court order, the Transport Commissioner of the State is authorised to cancel the registration of all vehicles in Mumbai which have not been converted or relocated outside the metropolitan limits.

While there was initial resistance to the order, the extended deadline as well as the option to relocate vehicles has eased tensions between the authorities, petitioners and transport unions.

Approximately 10,000 cars and10 buses have shifted to the new system. Mahanagar Gas Ltd, the supplier, registers sales of more than 11,00,000 kg per month at the rate of Rs 14 per kg as opposed to the petrol cost of Rs 33 per litre.

Mumbai Electric Supply and Transport Company, the autonomous body which runs a vast fleet of public buses, has to convert 100 buses a year to CNG/LPG till a total of 1,000 buses are converted. All new buses have to be CNG/LPG-compliant.

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