Gurugram and Faridabad have banned the use of Bharat Stage (BS)-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles. The ban comes in light of the rising air pollution levels in the cities. The decision was taken by the Haryana State Pollution Control Board and comes after the Supreme Court refused to grant a stay on the ban.
The ban will be enforced from a specific date, which will be determined by the authorities. Any vehicles found non-compliant with the ban will be impounded and their owners will face penalties.
The move is expected to have a significant impact on vehicle owners and the automobile industry. According to reports, over 2,000 BS-III petrol vehicles and around 20,000 BS-IV diesel vehicles are likely to be affected by the ban in Gurugram and Faridabad. The ban will also impact the sale and registration of new BS-III vehicles in these cities.
The decision to ban these vehicles comes as a part of the authorities’ efforts to curb air pollution in the region. Gurugram and Faridabad have been facing severe pollution levels, particularly during the winter months. The ban is expected to help reduce emissions from vehicles and improve the air quality in the cities.
However, the ban has raised concerns among vehicle owners and the automobile industry. Many vehicle owners who have recently purchased BS-III vehicles are now in a bind as they will have to bear the financial burden of either upgrading their vehicles to comply with the new regulations or face losing their vehicles altogether.
The automobile industry also faces challenges as it will have to find ways to dispose of the existing unsold inventory of BS-III vehicles, which will not be allowed to be sold after the ban comes into effect. The industry is also concerned about the impact on sales of BS-IV vehicles as potential buyers may now wait for the introduction of BS-VI vehicles, which are expected to be introduced in 2020.
Despite these concerns, the ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles is being seen as a necessary step to combat air pollution in Gurugram and Faridabad. The ban is expected to encourage the adoption of cleaner and more environmentally friendly vehicles in the region.
