STCs must convert 17 lakh buses to Euro VI compliant: Nitin Gadkari

Gadkari said the move is aimed at curbing high vehicular pollution

The Centre today asked the state transport undertakings to convert their 17 lakh buses to Euro VI compliant or bio-fuel friendly vehicles as part of implementing stricter emission norms from April 1, 2020, a move aimed at curbing high vehicular pollution.

"You have to convert your buses to Euro VI norms. There are 17 lakh buses operated by State Transport Corporations. These have to be upgraded through refurbishing or other means so that they become Euro VI or bio-fuel compliant. These can also be converted to electric buses," Union Minister Nitin Gadkari told state transport ministers today.

Pollution is a major concern and once these buses are converted into higher-grade fuel compliant or bio-fuel, electric compliant, India could cut on huge crude import bills to the tune of Rs 8 lakh crore per annum, the Road Transport, Highways and Shipping Minister said while addressing the joint meeting of National Road Safety Council and Transport Development Council.

The statement assume significance in the wake of India deciding to leapfrog directly from Euro IV emission norms for petrol and diesel to Euro VI standards, and the oil PSUs will invest Rs 28,750 crore for the transition.

An inter-ministerial group headed by Gadkari on January 6 had taken the decision to advance the date by four years to April 1, 2020 for implementation of Bharat Stage VI (equivalent to Euro VI norms followed globally) for supply of cleaner auto fuel, by altogether skipping the Euro V grade norms.

"Mercedes MD has met and they are ready to convert their diesel buses into buses that can be run on bio-diesel," the Minister said.

Gadkari also suggested State Transport Corporations to slash the ticket prices by 50% to swing into profit saying this could easily be done after change in fuel which is economical.

He said most of state road transport corporations buses were running into losses which amounted to Rs 10,000 crore.

He also announced the plans to set up bus ports across the country on the line of airports citing example of such bus ports in Gujarat.

"Government is ready to provide viability subsidy. There is a need to set up bus ports on the pattern of airports on the public-private-partnership (PPP) mode," he said.

The government also plans to take the total length of the National Highways to 2 lakh km in three months, he said.

India at present has about 1 lakh km of National Highways out of about 52 lakh km of road network and NHs alone account for 40 per cent of the total traffic.

Gadkari said by April end 380 toll plazas on NHs would be converted into electronic toll plazas which would minimise the loss of Rs 1 lakh crore on such plazas due to higher fuel consumption and delays.