Two lakh diesel vehicles to go off Delhi roads today
New Delhi : Approximately two lakh diesel vehicles more than 15 years old will not be allowed to ply in the city from Sunday and the vehicles cannot be parked either.
The transport department prepared a list of 1.91 lakh such vehicles that it has deregistered on the orders of the National Green Tribunal (NGT).
The move came after the Supreme Court banned the plying of diesel and petrol driven taxis in Delhi. And the Supreme Court on Saturday refused to give more time to taxi operators to switch to the cleaner compressed natural gas (CNG). The deadline for the change, which had been extended twice, was Saturday.
It may be mentioned here that according to the Delhi transport department, about 60,000 taxis are registered in the city. Of them, 27,000 run on diesel.
The transport department has identified 21 locations where the impounded vehicles will be kept but that might not be enough to park nearly two lakh vehicles.
Violators will be issued challans under section 39/192 of the MV Act and would also have to pay a fine of Rs 2,000. Vehicles will be impounded under section 207 of the MV Act.
Some taxi operators believe the court ruling will mainly affect cab operators.
On Sunday, with taxis plying on petrol and diesel staying off the roads, commuters switched over to the limited number of CNG-driven yellow-top taxis and auto-rickshaws. The problem is expected to peak on Monday.
