Delhi: Transport Association expresses discontent over NGT directive on diesel vehicles

The Transport Association on Wednesday expressed its discontent over the National Green Tribunal (NGT) directive to the Delhi Government, which ordered the prohibition of diesel vehicles older than ten years to ply on roads in the city, adding that the body would fight the judgement. "Suddenly, there has been a ban on vehicles older than ten years. This will affect the transport industry negatively, which is any case not running in profit. We do not agree with this judgement of court and will protest against it," Transport Association general secretary Rajinder Kapoor said.

"Around 20-25 percent vehicles in Delhi which are older than ten years," he added.

Kapoor also said that the transport industry does not earn much revenue and ten years was too less as heavy vehicles cannot be replaced every few years. The NGT had on Tuesday prohibited diesel vehicles that are over ten years old from plying in the national capital. The order was passed in a bid to improve the Capital's deteriorating air quality which is causing a lot of health problems.

The order follows a similar one passed by the Tribunal in November last year banning all vehicles over 15 years old from plying in Delhi. But the state government has failed to implement that order.