300 transport buses in Himachal to go off road

To check rising vehicular pollution, the Himachal Pradesh government on Monday announced that 300 roadways buses that are more than nine years old shall be taken off the road.

Likewise, vehicles purchased from outside the state which are more than 10 years old would also have to pay higher registration fee, Transport Minister G.S. Bali said adding that this amount would be announced later.

The power to accord registration to such vehicles would rest with the state transport commissioner only, the minister said.

Within the state, vehicles which are more than 15 years old would also have to pay additional road tax, Bali told reporters.

He said the new arrangement would come into effect from January 1 next year.

He said the government diesel vehicles which completed 15 years of age numbered 142,000 while those having completed 10 years numbered 131,000.

The minister said growing pollution was a matter of worry and the decision was taken keeping in view the health of the people of the state.

He said permits were being issued immediately to convert the auto rickshaws into e-rickshaws and 25 electric public transport buses would be launched soon.