Latest news with #CentralMotorVehicleRules
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Govt tweaks rules to make ‘unauthorised' school vans legit
MUMBAI: With over 100,000 small vans transporting school students in Maharashtra being 'unauthorised', the state government has proposed to tweak its own motor vehicle rules by recognising smaller vehicles with a capacity of up to 12 passengers as 'school vans'. The transport department last week issued a notification defining school buses and school vans in accordance with the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Regulations for School Buses) Rules 2011. Govt tweaks rules to make 'unauthorised' school vans legit According to the draft, buses are vehicles that ferry more than 13 passengers while vans carry less than 12. Earlier, the seating capacity ascertained by the government were 6 students. 'With this rule-tweaking, we want to strictly regulate vans ferrying school students,' said an official from the transport department. 'Legit school vans will have a colour code with 'school van' written on them. They will not be allowed to ferry other passengers apart from students. They will have to follow the safety norms applicable to buses, such as having aluminium mesh on windows and first-aid boxes and cannot ferry more students than the seating capacity of the van.' The government expects school vans to be specially designed and constructed vehicles and Type Approval Certificates to be issued by empanelled government agencies. Another officer said that the new order would help the government decongest the roads. 'School buses ply for specific times of the day and specific periods of the year,' he said. 'The rest of the time, they are parked on the roads, creating traffic jams. Vans are ideal for narrow lanes and convenient for parents, as they give doorstep service. With certain conditions and specially designed vehicles, we expect more safety measures like more height to be introduced.' The Bombay high court in 2020 banned the transporting of schoolchildren in 'soft top' autos although it had allowed vans with a seating capacity of six. After the 2019 amendment to the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, however, there was a question mark on the legality of the existing vans. While the court case is still being heard, the state government has tweaked the definition of a school van. Anil Garg, president of the School Bus Owners Association, said the government's order would not stand legal scrutiny, as the matter was sub-judice and the Central Motor Vehicles Act would have to be amended first. 'Vans are illegally plying in connivance with transport and police officers,' he said. 'This new policy will encourage more small vehicles on the roads, which is against the government's aim of mass transport and decongesting roads. The occupants of seven such vans can fit into one school bus.'
Mint
4 days ago
- Automotive
- Mint
That rust bucket on wheels may cost a fortune in insurance, re-registration
The Centre is weighing higher fees to insure and re-register older cars, two officials aware of the discussions said, targeting so-called end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) that guzzle fuel and dirty the air. The ministries of road transport and finance are studying the proposal to discourage older vehicles by increasing their ownership costs, the people cited above said on the condition of anonymity. Officials met industry executives earlier this month to discuss the matter. 'There were consultations held with the industry in July, and the government was of the view that end-of-life vehicles should be disincentivized. There is a consideration that insurance costs for such vehicles can be increased. Also, higher re-registration costs may also help in this regard," one of the two officials said on the condition of anonymity. Queries emailed to the two ministries remained unanswered. Currently, diesel vehicles in the Delhi National Capital Region (NCR) are considered end-of-life after 10 years, and petrol vehicles after 15 years. For the rest of India, the lifespan is 15 years for transport vehicles and 20 years for non-transport vehicles. The finance ministry is expected to frame a model that will allow insurers to charge more for ELVs based on their age, condition and emissions, the people cited above said. Besides, fees to re-register vehicles could be set at or above the cost of registering a new vehicle, with these changes potentially incorporated into the Central Motor Vehicle Rules. 'Under the plan, while vehicle scrappage would be the preferred route for old, unfit and polluting vehicles, those looking to extend the life after getting their vehicles tested would also be discouraged, with higher insurance and registration costs," the second official added. Carbon dioxide from vehicle exhaust makes up about 12% of air pollution, according to the International Energy Agency. The share is significantly higher in large cities like New Delhi, where air quality frequently reaches "severe" levels. Auto exhaust also includes harmful chemicals such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, volatile organic compounds, sulfur dioxide and particulate matter. The Delhi government recently attempted to enforce the rule by refusing fuel for ELVs, but the decision was deferred to November after a public outcry. Private sector insurers expressed support for higher premiums on older, polluting vehicles, citing both public health and mechanical failure risks. "Pollution from ELVs contributes to respiratory illnesses like asthma, bronchitis and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)," said Arti Mulik, chief technical Officer at Universal Sompo General Insurance. "As insurers, we have a social responsibility to support the environment and public health." Mulik added that higher premiums could "reflect on their higher risk of mechanical failures, breakdowns and accidents" and encourage a shift towards cleaner alternatives like electric or compressed natural gas vehicles.
Time of India
5 days ago
- Automotive
- Time of India
Tech glitch holding up pollution certs for vehicles with pending challans: Govt
Guwahati: Vehicles with pending traffic challan compliance are not being issued Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC) due to a deficiency in the software, the state transport department said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This came to the fore during the hearing of a petition filed by the Metropolitan Transports Association and one Manoj Kumar Thakuria regarding the issue. The court took note that the ministry of road transport and highways brought certain amendments through a notification issued in Sept 2020 in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989. It noted that one of such amendments provides that if a challan is due beyond the specified time period, except in the case of offences instituted for prosecution by the court, then applications with respect to the licences of offenders or registration of motor vehicles mentioned in the challans shall not be processed by the licensing authority or the registering authority, except applications relating to permits, fitness, and taxes of motor vehicles. In sum and substance, the court stated, the amendment ensures that traffic challans are complied with, and during the period when the challans remain pending compliance, there could be no registration of the vehicle mentioned in the challan or renewal of the licence of the offender. However, the court said a motor vehicle to be plied on roads requires many other certifications, including the PUCC. The contention of the petitioners is that during the pendency of the compliance of challans, the PUCCs are not being granted. The court said it appears that the software developed by NIC does not capture the PUCC certification. A clarification was issued by the road transport ministry in May last year, reaffirming that there is no legal restriction on issuing PUCCs to vehicles with fines, and states and the union territories were requested to implement the updated PUCC software with version 2.0. The court of Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar and Justice Michael Zothankhuma said the amended rules do not proscribe the issuance of a PUCC during the pendency of the challan compliance. "RKD Choudhury (Deputy Solicitor General of India ) submits that he shall take instructions and shall get back to this court on the next date," the court added, listing the matter on Aug 14.
Indian Express
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Maharashtra gives nod to set up 6 Automated Test Stations for vehicle fitness certification
The Maharashtra government on Monday sanctioned the installation of six Automated Test Stations (ATS) for vehicle fitness certification at Gondia, Jalgaon, Nandurbar, Ratnagiri, Beed, and Chiplun. These facilities will mechanise the testing process of commercial and transport vehicles for roadworthiness, minimising manual checks at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs). The ATS centres will conduct tests on numerous safety parameters, including brakes, suspension, headlamp alignment, emissions, and other elements significant to the performance of the vehicle. Vehicles older than eight years need to be tested under these fitness parameters at regular intervals. The state transport department said, 'The transition to automated tests aims at enhancing the efficiency of checks and making sure only vehicles that are roadworthy remain on the road.' The government will fix a uniform fee for conducting tests at the new centres, said an officer. The development and operations contract of the stations has been given to Rosmerta Technologies Ltd on a Build-Own-Operate-Transfer (BOOT) model. The cost of the project is Rs 109.15 crore and will be implemented within five years. The company will install the stations on the state transport department's allotted land, run them for the concession period, and finally transfer them to the government. The development comes following a directive by the Central Government under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR) that fitness tests for commercial vehicles should be done solely at automated centres on a phased basis. The move intends to establish a uniform, transparent, and tamper-proof vehicle inspection system across the nation. Currently, car fitness tests are done manually at RTOs, which raises issues about precision and uniformity. The automated centres will produce electronic records of test outcomes that can be accessed by enforcement agencies as well as regulatory bodies. These records will facilitate tracking compliance and enhance road safety norm enforcement. 'These centres will enhance road safety by making vehicle fitness testing more precise, transparent, and accessible, especially in regions where such infrastructure has been limited. We commend the department for taking a proactive approach to improving compliance and roadworthiness across the state,' said Kartick Nagpal, president, Rosmerta Group. These new ATS centres are part of a bigger plan to establish 21 such centres in Maharashtra.
Mint
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Mint
Mint Explainer: Why is India blending more ethanol with petrol?
MUMBAI : India achieved its target of blending 20% ethanol into petrol in March 2025—five years ahead of the 2030 deadline. Now, the government has grown more ambitious: It wants to blend more ethanol into petrol. But why is India using more ethanol-blended petrol like E20? How does it affect our vehicles? Most importantly, can it reduce the harm caused by fossil fuels? Mint explains: Why is India blending ethanol with petrol? Primarily, to reduce our import bill and emissions. In 2003, India started a pilot programme to blend ethanol—a byproduct of sugarcane—into petrol to reduce carbon emissions from the fuel's use. By 2019, the Ethanol Blended Petrol (EBP) Programme was extended to all of India (except the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and Lakshadweep). The ethanol blending helps the country reduce its crude oil imports and bring down its foreign-exchange outflow. Where are we on our ethanol blending programme? As of 2025, all commercially available petrol in India is E20, meaning 20% of it is blended with ethanol. We reached this target five years earlier than the planned 2030 deadline. Now, the government is planning to hike blending targets to 27% by 2030 and sell E27 petrol by 2030, reported The Times of India on 17 July. The ministry of petroleum and natural gas (MoPNG) denied the report, saying it had not made a decision on higher ethanol blending yet. However, in June, the ministry of road transport published a notification proposing changes in the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, that will allow automakers to manufacture 'flex fuel' vehicles. These can run on E85—petrol containing 85% ethanol. Has ethanol blending delivered on its objectives? Yes, at least according to the government. India's greenhouse gas emissions reduced by 19.2 million tonnes between 2014 and July 2021, showed the latest ministry of petroleum and natural gas estimates. The ministry said the country also saved over ₹26,000 crore in foreign exchange by cutting its reliance on crude oil imports during the period. So, what's the fuss about E20 and higher ethanol-blended petrol? Consumers aren't enthused about buying petrol blended with ethanol for a number of reasons. First, burning ethanol produces less energy than petrol, so E20 and other blends affect car mileage. This means car owners are forced to buy more petrol to travel the same distance. Second, despite blending ethanol with petrol and saving on import costs, the government has not reduced petrol prices; oil marketing companies continue to retail the fuel at above ₹100 per litre in most major cities. Third, engines of older vehicles may not be compatible with E20 and newer blends that the government may introduce next. For customers, ethanol-blended petrol may be reducing the lives of their vehicles with no discernible savings in fuel costs. But isn't it worth the reduced emissions? Perhaps. Environmentalists say there are second- and third-order effects to producing ethanol-blended petrol in India. As farmers grow more sugarcane to convert to ethanol and sell to the government, land and water resources in delicate areas come under pressure, adding to environmental stress. Instead, the government should focus on turning biomass from existing activities—such as wood chips and crop residue—to make more ethanol. In 2021, the Niti Aayog said a 'relatively small" part of ethanol procurement came from non-sugar sources. Besides, vehicle makers will need to invest in upgrading the engines of their newer cars so that they can run on petrol blended with more ethanol. Energy experts say the government must also determine how to promote electric vehicles alongside ethanol-blended fuel-run vehicles. Are carmakers ready for this upgrade? Perhaps. In March, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers told the MoPNG that carmakers could reduce the loss of engine efficiency due to E20 petrol with some modifications in engine hardware and tuning. At any rate, the ministry said that E20 had only a 'marginal reduction" in fuel efficiency of cars made for E10 and calibrated for E20. Manufacturers are getting ready for newer fuel norms. At Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, leading carmakers, including Maruti Suzuki, Hyundai, Tata Motors, and Mahindra & Mahindra, showed flex-fuel cars that can run on E85 and higher grades of ethanol-blended petrol.
