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Delhi to ban dirty two-wheelers, diesel buses, taxis

The Delhi government is working towards introducing a legislation to ban sale and registration of two-stroke two-wheelers, diesel buses and taxis in the National Capital Region beginning March 31, 2000.

Besides, conversion of private petrol-run vehicles to diesel would also be banned through a legislation, Omesh Saigal, chief secretary, Delhi government, said.

This is as part of the government's efforts to reduce vehicular pollution in the region and a direct fallout of the recent Supreme Court directives to this effect, he said.

''Efforts are being made to clean up the city streets and take the polluting vehicles off the roads.''

''We are planning to allow only four-stroke two-wheeler sales and registration in the NCR from March 31, 2000,'' Saigal said.

In addition, all three-wheelers including old and new have been directed to convert to compressed natural gas-run engines by that date. ''Even the new rear-engine three-wheelers, being produced by Bajaj Auto Limited, will be asked to convert to CNG. At best, the new autorickshaws, as they are less polluting, would be given an extra year for effecting the conversion.''

The Delhi government, on its part to encourage green vehicles, would offer a ten per cent subsidy on purchase of CNG-run three-wheelers. Besides, a 90 per cent loan, with an interest subsidy of four per cent, would be provided to the buyers by the Delhi Finance Corporation. No sales tax would be levied on these vehicles. A similar benefit would be extended to purchasers of new CNG-run taxis.

Saigal further stated that only Euro-II compliant diesel-run taxis will be allowed to ply on the Delhi roads. Sale and registration of all other taxis would be banned in the region. The state government is also planning to introduce a legislation to phase out all existing pre-1990 taxis in the NCR.

He pointed out that around 7,500 buses are operational in the capital under the Delhi Transport Corporation umbrella. Of this, around 2,500 belong to the DTC while the remaining are with private agencies.

While the DTC has already placed orders with Shaktiman, Telco and Ashok Leyland for new green-fuel buses, steps are being taken to take the existing vehicles off the streets. ''We are willing to buy as many buses as can be supplied by the manufacturers but their production constraints are a stumbling block. We have placed orders for five buses each from Ashok Leyland and Telco and only one has been delivered so far.''

The DTC, he said, has been ordered to replace all its buses with CNG-run units. Besides, orders are being issued to phase-out eight-year-old buses in the capital by March 31, 2000 and the remaining by March 31, 2001.

Besides, a legislation would be put in place to ensure that bi-fuel vehicles are used only for taxis while private vehicles would run only on CNG in the NCR. ''We are not keen on allowing bi-fuel engines on private vehicles.''

Regarding banning conversion of petrol-run vehicles to diesel, Saigal said, ''This would be enforced through the registration authority. We will not register any car which has been converted.''

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