Issue certificates to old diesel vehicles, transporters ask Delhi govt

The transporters said phasing out of vehicles will cause financial loss to them and leave thousands of people jobless

Delhi’s transporters have urged the government to issue fitness certificates to old diesel vehicles that are to be phased out as per an order by the National Green Tribunal.

The transporters said phasing out of vehicles will cause financial loss to them and leave thousands of people jobless. (Sushil Kumar/Hindustan Times)

The transporters said phasing out of vehicles will cause financial loss to them and leave thousands of people jobless. The transporters urged chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday that the government should issue fitness certificate to vehicles that are over 10 years old.

Transport minister Satyendra Jain told reporters on Thursday that the Delhi government will formulate a policy to adhere to NGT’s order seeking de-registration of old diesel vehicles in Delhi. He said the government will take a call on the transporters’ demand after going through a certified copy of the NGT order.

“The NGT has advised that the vehicles can be put off road in a phased manner,” said Trilochan Singh, a transporter who met the chief minister.

Read: Truckers’ bodies threaten strike, demand relief

“In that case, vehicles just over 10 years old have about two years to go. If the government issues fitness certificate to such vehicles, the owners will have an option of operating it for more time or sell them outside Delhi,” Singh said.

The meeting was attended by deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia.

Jain told reporters, “We have not received the copy of the order yet. After studying the order, we will consult the stakeholders, including the transporters, to formulate a policy to phase out old diesel vehicles.”

On the demand of transporters’ association demanding fitness certificates for the old diesel vehicles, Jain said, “We have assured the traders that we will take a legal opinion on the issue and hold another discussion with them. Even the transporters want pollution reduced in Delhi and gave their suggestions on it.”

Read: Why NGT wants old diesel vehicles off the roads?