Transporters to protest against ban on old vehicles in Delhi

Demanding lifting the ban on plying of decade-old diesel vehicles on city roads, transporters today threatened to block entry of vehicles into the national capital from midnight Monday.
"If the ban is not lifted, then no commercial vehicle irrespective of its age will enter into Delhi from midnight of Monday, March 13," transporters body AIMTC President Bhim Whadhwa told PTI. The body today held a meeting on the matter.
Earlier this week, the National Green Tribunal directed that all diesel vehicles which are more than 10 years old will not be permitted to ply in Delhi.
"The utter callousness with which the order is pronounced by the tribunal is not in good taste and it seems that some lobby is at work behind this draconian move," he added.

The tribunal had directed the transport department of the Delhi government and other concerned authorities to prepare a comprehensive data of registration of vehicles which are 10 or more years old.
The body also said, as a part of the order a number of vehicles are being impounded at night and money is being fleeced from vulnerable truckers.

It added, the government must pay heed to the loss of livelihood of lakhs of truckers and their family members on account of this short sighted dicktat.
Delhi Traffic Police has already impounded over 250 vehicles to enact the order.
Earlier in the day, Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has said that the country's economic situation and other aspects also need to be taken into account while implementing such decisions.

"We have to consider the poverty in our country and also per capita income. And in such a situation we have to consider all the points. If you go by only one side, it will not be justified. For all these debatable issues, I need your opinion and then we will take the decision," the minister had said.