Central Govt moves apex court seeking relaxation on diesel taxi ban in Delhi-NCR

On 5 May, the Central Government filed a petition in the Supreme Court for relaxation on the ban imposed on diesel taxis, in the Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR).

The Centre told the apex court that the current ban on diesel cabs is affecting BPOs as they use a large number of taxis, including the diesel ones, to ferry their employees.

It adds that the BPOs bring dollars of foreign exchange and this may go to other countries if the BPOs are not able to operate efficiently.

The Supreme Court is set to hear the matter on 9 May.

Earlier, the Delhi Government sought two-days' time from the Supreme Court to file a detailed roadmap on phasing out diesel taxis. Stating that the order to ban diesel cabs from NCR has led to law and order problems, the Delhi Government had requested the apex court to implement the order in a phased manner.

The apex court had asked the Delhi Government to give a roadmap on how it plans to phase out diesel taxis and plan their conversion to CNG.

Due to ban on diesel taxis, Delhi and NCR earlier this week faced heavy traffic jams with the protesting cab drivers blocking roads during rush hours.

The apex court had on 30 April refused to extend the deadline for conversion of diesel taxis into CNG ones even as taxi owners pled there is no technology available in the market to convert their diesel cars into CNG.

--ANI