Govt turns down demand for change in quadricycle norms

Auto companies had sought weight cap increase from 450 kg to 600 kg

After months of dithering, the ministry of road transport and highways has turned down the demand by leading automobile companies to tweak the rules for quadricycles. The companies had asked the government to make some fundamental changes in the norms, including increasing the cap on the weight of the vehicle, which were to be effective from October 1.

The notification permitting quadricycles was passed in April by the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government but a six-month period was given for it to come to effect. By then, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government had come to power.

Some automobile firms had asked the government to increase the weight cap from 450 kg to 600 kg. This way, many existing passenger vehicles would have got into the quadricycle category after making some minor changes in design.

Ruling out any changes in the norms as stipulated in the original notification, a top official in the road ministry said, "There is no need for auto companies to come back to us asking for changes (on the norms of quadricycles). It has been cleared from our side."

Bajaj Auto is India's only automaker that has a product, RE60, which meets the specifications laid down by the government. However, the latest clarification from the government does not mean that Bajaj Auto can start selling the vehicle in the market immediately.

The ministry official cited above said the product should be cleared by the Automotive Research Association of India, a body under the ministry of heavy industries & public enterprises. After getting certification from the Automotive Research Association of India, quadricycle makers will also need to negotiate with state governments to give them permits (as they do for three-wheelers) to run the vehicle, the official added. Governments in West Bengal and Delhi have reportedly shown interest in allowing these vehicles to ply on roads.

Bajaj Auto is pitted against other automobile firms on the quadricycle issue. Some such as Tata Motors had openly questioned the very idea of quadricycles. When the government gave a green signal to the policy governing these vehicles, Tata Motors' the then managing director, late Karl Slym, had tweeted: "The government and industry have been accelerating efforts in traffic safety and environment; now we consider a quadricycle. Why go backwards?"

TVS Motor Company Chairman and Managing Director Venu Srinivasan had also publicly stated that quadricycles would dilute safety and pollution norms.