Gadkari convenes emergency meeting to discuss diesel taxi ban

Minister of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari on Monday convened an emergency meeting with Minister of State for Environment, Forests and Climate Change Prakash Javadekar and Union Minister of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Anant Geete on diesel taxi ban.

Hundreds of taxi drivers earlier today blocked major roads in Delhi in protest against a Supreme Court decision to ban diesel taxis in the national capital.

Massive traffic jams occurred as protesting cab drivers blocked National Highway Number 8 and Ring Road.

The congestion largely affected thousands of office-goers, who travel between Delhi and Gurgaon. The traffic helpline was flooded with calls from distressed commuters.

The protestors included the diesel cab drivers with All India Tourist Permits (AITP), who are exempted from the ban, provided they operate outside NCR.

Yesterday, over a hundred diesel-run cabs, including many with AITP, ended up getting impounded after they were found plying within the city limits.

Diesel taxis were off the roads from yesterday in Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR).

The Supreme Court on April 30 refused to extend the deadline for diesel operated taxis to convert to CNG to curb air pollution.

The apex court rejected a plea that the decision would affect the livelihood of poor drivers as there is no technology available for conversion of diesel vehicles into CNG.

The court said the technology is available and the deadline will not be extended.

The bench had, in March, extended the deadline till April 30.

The apex court also pulled up the Centre for not coming out with solutions to reduce pollution levels due to vehicular emissions.