Govt to send 2.8 lakh notices to impose ban

NEW DELHI: The transport department of Delhi government is staring at a mammoth task of sending 2.8 lakh notices to stop diesel vehicles over 10-year-old from plying

NEW DELHI: The transport department of Delhi government is staring at a mammoth task of sending 2.8 lakh notices to stop diesel vehicles over 10-year-old from plying in the national capital.

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An analysis conducted by the department has revealed that Delhi has 1.6 lakh private and 1.2 lakh commercial diesel vehicles which are older than 10 years.

“We have the addresses but sending notices to them will take time. We will share details with the traffic police also so that whenever they stop a vehicle, they can check if it is over 10 years old. We will also issue public notices urging people not to violate the rule,” said a senior transport department official.

The ban will affect commercial cab owners severely whose earning will be hit. “Earlier, we used to sell old vehicles but only when they are over 15 years old. Now the vehicles will be scrapped and will be of nouse. Government wants to destroy taxi drivers,” said Sanjay Samrat, president of Delhi Taxi Tourist Transporters Association.

The government said that it will ask the regional offices to send out notices and also identify vehicles which are nearing the 10-year deadline so that advance notices can be issued to them.

The transport department has also decided not to transfer the registration number of vehicles beyond prescribed age of the vehicle.

“Vehicle owners had started rushing to transfer the registration number to some other vehicle. However, to put things in place, we have decided to not transfer the registration number if the vehicle is more than 10-year-old,” said a transport department official.

The transport department has agreed to transfer the number of vehicles below this age but the owner should have the vehicle for more than three years with him. Of the total 8 lakh diesel vehicles, 1.6 lakh private vehicles and 1.2 lakh commercial diesel vehicles are more than 10 years old. The department has, however, said that if someone had purchased a VIP number, he/she can get it transferred to a new vehicle but some price will be fixed for it.