By Arun Pratap Singh
Dehradun, 27 Jun: A total of 250 buses of the Uttarakhand Transport Corporation (UTC) regularly either go to Delhi or pass through Delhi carrying passengers. However, due to a decision taken by the Delhi Government, around 200 out of 250 buses of the roadways going from Uttarakhand to Delhi will not be able to do so from 1 October onwards as they don’t meet the new requirement of BS-6 emission norms. As a result, only 50 buses including 22 Volvo buses that meet the BS-6 emission norms will be allowed to enter Delhi from 1 October onwards. In addition, some contracted buses, but not owned by UTC also meet the BS-6 Standard of emission and would also be able to enter Delhi.
This can create a huge problem for passengers who travel to Delhi from various parts of the state till the problem is sorted out. Even if the UTC begins the purchase of new buses that meet the BS-6 Emission norms, it will take months to complete the tendering and purchase process and even more time to actually get the buses.
It may be recalled that a letter has been received by Uttarakhand Transport Corporation written by OP Mishra, Special Commissioner of Delhi Transport Department, which mentions that keeping in view the situation of air pollution in Delhi and NCR, the NGT issued an order on 1 April that only Bharat Stage-6 vehicles would operate in Delhi and NC and that diesel vehicles older than 10 years would also not be allowed to ply in NCR. While the entire public transport of Delhi is CNG based, buses coming from other states would be allowed to enter Delhi from 1 October only if they are BS-6 compliant.
Sources in the UTC claim that the corporation has started its preparations to purchase around 150 buses to operate on Delhi route. The whole process is however likely to take several months and even more time for the buses to actually be become available. Till such time, passengers will have to bear huge inconvenience and be forced to use alternative modes of transport. Till the buses are actually made available, the UTC will be able to operate only 50 odd buses on the Delhi route from 1 October onwards.
