The Hindu Business Line : Cabinet okays move to join auto tech regulation pact

The Defence Minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, with the Finance Minister, Mr P. Chidambaram, addressing presspersons after the Cabinet meeting at South Block in the Capital on Thursday. - Ramesh Sharma

New Delhi , Nov. 3

IN a move that will facilitate export of vehicles and reduce the cost of auto parts development and production, India today decided to join the 1998 agreement on Global Technical Regulations (GTR) for automobiles.

The Union Cabinet gave a go-ahead to the proposal.

The signing of the agreement will see Indian automakers benefit, as design specifications of vehicles will not have to be changed to meet country-specific regulations.

Common specifications of automobiles parts would also reduce the cost of development and production, and retail prices of vehicles.

Besides, approval procedures would become easier, the scope of the market would expand, providing consumers with a wider range of choice.

The GTR for motor vehicles is administered by Working Party-29 (World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations) of the Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), a body of United Nations working for harmonisation of vehicle regulations.

The agreement will also enhance access to a set of benchmark regulations to measure safety and environmental performance of vehicles and facilitate exports.

The Cabinet also approved the retention and continuation of the National Standing Committee functioning in the Department of Road Transport and Highways to regularly appraise the outcomes and recommend further course of action. The department is to take appropriate decisions on setting up a dedicated body for the purpose.

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