Gopal Rai writes to Gadkari, seeks amendment to Motor Vehicles Act

Delhi Transport Minister Gopal Rai on Wednesday urged Union Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to amend the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 to implement the National Green Tribunal order to impound over 10-year-old diesel vehicles plying here.

In a letter to Gadkari, Rai said the provision to ban the entry of diesel vehicles over 10 years old are subject matter of the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 which falls under the purview of the central government.

"I request you to consider the matter as urgent for appropriate decision so as to facilitate the implementation of the orders of NGT," Rai said.

Furthermore, Rai asked Gadkari to direct the National Highway Authority of India to install 'weigh in motion' machines to check overloaded trucks at all entry points to Delhi which also contribute to air pollution.

"I request you to issue direction to NHAI for installation of weigh in motion on major highways from where trucks enter Delhi," Rai said.

He also wished to meet Gadkari along with the transport ministers of Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.

Noting that diesel was the prime source of air pollution in Delhi, the tribunal on April 7 ordered that all diesel vehicles which were more than 10 years old will not be permitted to ply in Delhi and the National Capital Region.

However, the implementation of the order was deferred by two weeks on Monday keeping in view the transportation needs of "essential services".