Banning All diesel and petrol-run taxis in the National Capital
Region (NCR), the Supreme Court of India(SCI)on Saturday April 30,2016 held that only CNG-fitted
private taxis, including those being operated by aggregators like Ola
and Uber, will be allowed to ply from Sunday May 01,2016
Holding a special hearing, SC Bench led by Chief Justice T S Thakur declined to extend the April 30 deadline fixed for conversion of all diesel and petrol-run taxis to CNG mode.
Senior advocate Shyam Divan, appearing for some taxi owners,
contended that there is no technology for converting diesel vehicles
into CNG mode. “We will not be able to earn our livelihood. Moreover, we
have to repay the bank loans taken to buy these taxis too,” he said.
But the SC Bench, also comprising Justices A K Sikri and R Banumathi, turned down the plea for extension of deadline, pointing out that it had already been extended three times since last year.
On December 16 ,2015, the deadline for conversion to CNG mode was set as March 1. It was later extended to March 31,2016 and then to April 30,2016
“We are not going to extend the deadline any further,” said the bench today.
In its December 16,2015 order, the court had observed that the move “will contribute substantially to reduction of pollution.”
The SC Bench today also extended its ban on fresh registrations of diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2000 cc and above in the NCR till further orders. It said the issues relating to the continuing ban on registration as well as imposing environment cess on new diesel vehicles would be taken up on May 9.
The SC, however, allowed Delhi Police and Delhi Jal Board to register their new diesel-run vehicles of 2000 cc and above for transportation of undertrial prisoners, arms and ammunition and supply of water.
It asked Delhi Police to pay 30 per cent of the cost of the vehicle as Environment Compensation Charge (ECC). The Delhi Jal Board was exempted from the green cess on the ground that it ferries water tankers to people.
According to transport department, about 60,000 taxis are registered in the national capital and of them 27,000 are running on diesel. Around 2,000 diesel-run taxis had converted into CNG mode in the last two months.
The SC order is not applicable on cabs having All India Permits but on most of the diesel cabs ply on local routes. This will essentially bring down the availability of cabs in the capital.
Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai has directed the enforcement wing of the transport department to launch a crackdown against diesel-run cabs plying on locals routes in Delhi.
"As per rule, taxis having All India permit are required to cover a distance of around 200 km. Taxis having all India permits cannot ply from one point to other point inside Delhi," a government official said.
Holding a special hearing, SC Bench led by Chief Justice T S Thakur declined to extend the April 30 deadline fixed for conversion of all diesel and petrol-run taxis to CNG mode.
But the SC Bench, also comprising Justices A K Sikri and R Banumathi, turned down the plea for extension of deadline, pointing out that it had already been extended three times since last year.
On December 16 ,2015, the deadline for conversion to CNG mode was set as March 1. It was later extended to March 31,2016 and then to April 30,2016
“We are not going to extend the deadline any further,” said the bench today.
In its December 16,2015 order, the court had observed that the move “will contribute substantially to reduction of pollution.”
The SC Bench today also extended its ban on fresh registrations of diesel vehicles with engine capacity of 2000 cc and above in the NCR till further orders. It said the issues relating to the continuing ban on registration as well as imposing environment cess on new diesel vehicles would be taken up on May 9.
The SC, however, allowed Delhi Police and Delhi Jal Board to register their new diesel-run vehicles of 2000 cc and above for transportation of undertrial prisoners, arms and ammunition and supply of water.
It asked Delhi Police to pay 30 per cent of the cost of the vehicle as Environment Compensation Charge (ECC). The Delhi Jal Board was exempted from the green cess on the ground that it ferries water tankers to people.
Commuters Face Problems as Diesel-Run Taxis Goes Off Delhi Roads
Commuters faced inconvenience on Sunday May 01,2016 as nearly 27,000 diesel-run taxis stayed off the after the Supreme Court on Saturday April 30,2016 refused to extend the April 30,2016 deadline fixed for their conversion into CNG mode.
According to transport department, about 60,000 taxis are registered in the national capital and of them 27,000 are running on diesel. Around 2,000 diesel-run taxis had converted into CNG mode in the last two months.
The SC order is not applicable on cabs having All India Permits but on most of the diesel cabs ply on local routes. This will essentially bring down the availability of cabs in the capital.
Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai has directed the enforcement wing of the transport department to launch a crackdown against diesel-run cabs plying on locals routes in Delhi.
"As per rule, taxis having All India permit are required to cover a distance of around 200 km. Taxis having all India permits cannot ply from one point to other point inside Delhi," a government official said.
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