Bengal bus operators' association claims state mulling biannual CF, transport dept denies move
Tapan Banerjee, secretary of the Joint Council of Bus Syndicates, told PTI that the association had received reliable information about a draft proposal by the state transport department, which seeks to extend the life of stage carriages beyond 15 years, based on their engine emissions and physical condition.
Kolkata, Jun 15 (PTI) An association of private bus operators in West Bengal on Monday urged the state government to drop any proposal mandating biannual Certificate of Fitness (CF) checks for commercial vehicles operating in the Kolkata Metropolitan Development Area (KMDA), warning that such a move would severely impact the already struggling sector.
The existing ban on commercial vehicles over 15 years old in the KMDA area was implemented following a Calcutta High Court order dated August 1, 2009, as part of efforts to reduce vehicular air pollution.
Speaking on the cost implications of a two-time fitness certification per year, Banerjee said, 'Currently, a bus owner pays Rs 840 for CF. With additional allied expenses, it amounts to around Rs 25,000 annually. Doubling this will be unaffordable for most operators. Besides, this goes against the Motor Vehicles Act, which mandates only one CF annually for commercial vehicles nationwide.' Banerjee said they have suggested to the transport department that engines of stage carriages be changed on a regular basis and the age limit of a bus be extended up to 20 years.
'We support regular fitness monitoring, but subjecting vehicles to the same CF process twice a year is not viable. It will cripple the transport industry,' he said.
The bus syndicate also questioned the logic of scrapping entire vehicles based on age alone.
'The body and chassis of a bus do not pollute. It's the unburnt diesel from poorly maintained engines that causes emissions. Why not just impose stricter checks on engines?' the association stated.
Around 4,500 buses/mini-buses operate in Kolkata Metropolitan area, consisting of the city and parts of its neighbourhood districts, currently, with two-thirds of the stage carriages slated to be scrapped in the coming days. PTI SUS MNB
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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