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NDTV
31-07-2025
- NDTV
No Helmet, No Fuel: Bhopal, Indore Enforce Strict Rule From August 1
Bhopal: Starting tomorrow, two-wheeler riders in Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal and Indore will not be allowed to refuel at petrol or CNG pumps without wearing a helmet. The orders were issued on Wednesday by Bhopal Collector Kaushalendra Vikram Singh and Indore Collector Ashish Singh, citing a rising number of road accidents involving two-wheelers. As per the new directive, all petrol and CNG pumps in both cities have been instructed to deny fuel to any rider not wearing an ISI-marked helmet. The order will be enforced from August 1 to September 29, 2025, and those violating it may face legal action under Section 223 of the Indian Penal Code. Bhopal alone has 192 petrol pumps, with a combined daily fuel consumption of over 21 lakh litres, more than half of which is petrol. The administration's decision effectively makes helmet-wearing mandatory for fuel access, aiming to push riders towards better compliance with road safety norms. The directive is grounded in Section 129 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which mandates that both two-wheeler drivers and pillion riders must wear helmets. The collectors noted that several advisories have been issued by the state and central governments, but compliance remains poor, prompting stricter action. Exceptions to the rule will be made in cases of medical emergencies or other urgent situations. The order also clarifies that it is supplementary to any existing regulations and does not override any prior rules in place. Meanwhile, Indore Mayor Pushyamitra Bhargava has gone a step further, urging that helmet rules be extended to government offices as well. In a letter to Collector Ashish Singh, he proposed denying entry to visitors not wearing helmets, reinforcing the need for consistent helmet usage across the city. While authorities say the measure is meant to curb fatalities and serious injuries, the decision has triggered concerns among fuel dealers. Members of the Petrol Dealers Association have expressed apprehension over the practical challenges of implementing the ban, particularly about confrontations at fuel stations. "Pump operators may face penalties, but it's unclear what action will be taken against those who forcefully demand petrol without helmets," a representative of the association said.
Indian Express
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Centre's curbs on end-of-life vehicles: Not even a band-aid
The Delhi government has asked the Centre's Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to pause the fuel ban on end-of-life vehicles. The order to stop fuel supply to 10-year-old diesel-run vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles, which came into effect on July 1, was justified as an anti-pollution measure. Delhi's Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, however, said that the move could be 'counter-productive'. He is right, to an extent. The restrictions could push owners of ageing vehicles to source diesel or petrol from Delhi's neighbouring states and create conditions for an illicit inter-state fuel market. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta's argument that the ban will jeopardise the livelihoods of a large section of the city's population that depends on two-wheelers is also valid. However, both the restrictions and the pushback against them are symptomatic of a longstanding failing of both the Centre and its agencies, including the CAQM, as well as successive Delhi governments. The Capital has longed for a well-thought-out plan to clean its air for at least a decade-and-a-half. All it has got are blunt measures and piecemeal solutions. The CAQM had put the onus on petrol pump dealers to enforce the ban. Failure to do so would attract penalties under Section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. As a Petrol Dealers Association petition to the Delhi High Court pointed out, the move burdened 'petrol pump owners and their attendants… without them being necessarily equipped or authorised under any law to carry out such a responsibility'. On paper, the end-of-life vehicles are flagged by the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system installed at fuel stations and match the data against the government's Vahan portal. The trial run for these systems began at the end of last year, and last month the CAQM reportedly claimed that the ANPR scanners were ready to implement the ban on end-of-life vehicles. But, as Sirsa admitted, at several places in the city, ANPRs are riddled with technical glitches, including faulty sensors and incorrect placement of cameras. That the system is not integrated across the NCR shows that very little planning went into making the restrictions effective. Stemming vehicular pollution requires sustained engagement with the complex reasons behind motorisation — lifestyle choices, livelihood imperatives and urban sprawl that increases travel time and distances. Successive governments in Delhi haven't addressed this imperative adequately. Even the relatively easier task of nudging people to invest in the fitness of their vehicles has never received the policy attention it required. In the months it has been in office, Delhi's BJP government has given little indication of learning from the failures of its predecessors. It must course correct.
News18
01-05-2025
- Business
- News18
Pune Rural Faces CNG Crisis As PDA Halts Sales From May 1 Over Supply Issues
Last Updated: The Petrol Dealers Association (PDA) Pune announces to halt all CNG sales to Torrent outlets in rural over delayed and inconsistent supply from May 01. PNG Crisis: The supply of compressed natural gas (CNG) in Pune rural will come to a halt after the Petrol Dealers Association (PDA) Pune announced the suspension of all CNG sales at Torrent Gas-operated outlets from May 1. According to Hindustan Times, this decision is a response to continuous irregular supply and daily shortages lasting more than six to eight hours. Impact On Pump Owners and Public The HT report highlighted that pump owners are frustrated with the consistent supply issues, which have resulted in long queues regularly. Dhruv Ruparel, president of PDA Pune, said as cited by HT, Torrent Gas had failed to resolve the issue despite multiple complaints and follow-ups. He said this had caused severe inconvenience to consumers, especially public transport vehicles, private users, and emergency services. The disruption, he added, had significantly impacted mobility and daily livelihoods in the region. The PDA has requested the district collector and other authorities to take remedial action to ensure a regular supply of CNG, aiming to avoid public inconvenience. The suspension is meant to draw attention to the challenges faced by dealers and the public. First Published: May 01, 2025, 09:45 IST
Hindustan Times
30-04-2025
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Petrol Dealers Association announces suspension of CNG sales from May 1
PUNE: The Petrol Dealers Association (PDA) Pune, representing more than 900 registered petroleum dealers, has announced suspension of all CNG (compressed natural gas) sales at Torrent Gas-operated outlets in Pune rural supplied through trucks in offline mode starting May 1, 2025, due to continued irregular supply and long daily dry-outs lasting up to six to eight hours. The problem is recurrent and pump owners are frustrated to handle customers and long queues on a regular basis. Dhruv Ruparel, president, PDA Pune, said, 'Despite multiple complaints and follow-ups, Torrent Gas has failed to resolve the issue, causing severe inconvenience to consumers, especially public transport vehicles, private users, and emergency services. The disruption has significantly impacted mobility and daily livelihoods in the region.' The PDA Pune has stressed that the decision has been taken in the larger public interest to highlight the neglect and seek immediate remedial action. The PDA has also sought urgent intervention from the district collector and other authorities to ensure uninterrupted CNG supply and prevent further inconvenience to the public. However, the decision has not gone down well with most CNG users. Rajesh Kulkarni, an auto-rickshaw driver from Talegaon, said, 'This is going to make our lives even harder. We already wait in long queues every day, sometimes up to two hours, and then find out that there is no gas left. Now with this suspension, we don't know where to go. Our income depends on our ability to keep the rickshaw running, and without CNG, we are stuck. The government or gas company must step in and ensure a reliable supply. We cannot survive like this.' Whereas Anita Bhalle, a resident of Chakan, said, 'I switched to a CNG car last year because it was more economical and better for the environment. But with this kind of unreliable supply, it is becoming a nightmare. I have had to skip office meetings just because I could not refuel in time. If they are suspending sales, they should at least provide alternative arrangements or timelines so that commuters like me can plan ahead. It is really disappointing.'
