Delhi government wants cabs to run only on CNG

The Delhi government informed the Delhi High Court that it is in favour of the December 3 order that directed the Centre and the Delhi government to explore the possibility of setting up a committee headed by senior officials to work out a plan to ensure that only CNG cabs run in the national capital region (NCR) to address the problem of vehicular pollution.

Naushad Ahmed Khan, standing counsel for Delhi government said that the state government has agreed upon the idea and they have identified three officials. Simultaneously, the High Court mooted the idea of amending Motor Vehicles Act and pan its effect to National Capital Region to bring in uniformity in the enforcement of guidelines on vehicular emissions. Justice Manmohan, while hearing the matter on plying of diesel cabs in the Capital said, "Under Article 301 (freedom of trade and commerce) of the constitution, no one can be stopped from entering the national capital but then changes can be made to the existing Motor Vehicle Act so that rules and regulations can be enforced uniformly."

However, the hearing had to be adjourned for January 8 after the central government's standing counsel Manish Mohan said that the Supreme Court on Tuesday heard a similar matter regarding diesel vehicles and that detailed order is awaited. During the brief hearing, app-based cab service providers, including Ola and Uber, filed their reports disclosing the number of taxis as well as details of taxis that are being operated, managed and maintained by each one of them.

(In Association with Mail Today)