Diesel-run taxis to go off road today as SC refuses to extend time limit

New Delhi: The Supreme Court at its special sitting on Saturday refused to extend the time limit for diesel taxis and commercial vehicles to change to CNG fitted vehicles beyond April 30. As a result from May 1 diesel taxis and commercial vehicles cannot ply in the National Capital territory.

The court had initially asked the diesel cab operators in the NCR to switch over to CNG by March 31 and that deadline was later extended to April 30.

A three-judge Bench of Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justices R. Banumathi and A.K. Sikri also brushed aside the objections and said the ban on registration of diesel vehicles above 2000cc will continue in Delhi till further orders.

With major car manufacturers strongly pleading for lifting the ban, the court made it clear to them that the ban will continue if they are not prepared to pay environment compensation cess and opposed such a levy.

The bench, however, allowed the Delhi Police to purchase 197 heavy-duty vehicles to be used for various activities, including VVIP security.