7,000 buses booked for flouting rules

Over 7,000 buses, a majority registered in and plying into the Capital from, neighbouring States, were booked for flouting pollution norms in Delhi in the last six years, the Delhi government informed the Legislative Assembly during the ongoing budget session.

As per a joint agreement among States sharing the National Capital Region (NCR), it is mandatory that buses entering Delhi are run on Compressed Natural Gas.

U.P. buses top the list

A total of 7,219 buses were challaned for not having valid pollution under check (PUC) certificates, from 2012-13 till February 2018, Delhi Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot said. The highest number of buses, at 3,328, that were challaned for plying without valid PUC certificates were found to be registered in Uttar Pradesh followed by 2,064 from Rajasthan.

The number of buses registered in Delhi that were challaned, during the same period, for violating pollution norms was 643. According to the Minister, action against buses causing pollution picked up manifold in the last one year. A total of 5,086 buses were challaned for lacking valid PUC certificates, from 2017-till February this year.

The number was, according to the Transport Department records, relatively low during the previous years: 244 such buses plying without valid PUCs were challaned in 2012-13, 216 in 2013-14, 506 in 2014-15, 189 in 2015-16 and 978 in 2016-17, Mr. Gahlot said in a written reply.

The Enforcement Wing of the Transport Department carries out regular checks of pollution standards of the buses coming to Delhi from neighbouring States. Buses not having valid PUC certificates are challaned, the Minister told the Assembly. The fine for not having a valid PUC is ₹1,000.

The State Transport Authority of Delhi has no power to cancel permits of buses from other States violating norms in the city under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988. The Transport Department corresponds with their counterparts in other States in case offending buses belong to government undertakings.