Euro VI fuel to be in metros before 2020: Gadkari

Euro VI compliant fuel may be introduced in metros much ahead of the April 1, 2020 deadline, ensuring that Delhi is accorded topmost priority in the rollout plan, Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said.

New Delhi: Euro VI compliant fuel may be introduced in metros much ahead of the April 1, 2020 deadline, ensuring that Delhi is accorded topmost priority in the rollout plan, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said.

The step would help curb vehicular pollution in the national capital and other metros, he said.

India has decided to leapfrog directly from Euro IV emission norms for petrol and diesel to Euro VI standards and the oil PSUs will invest Rs 28,750 crore for the transition.

"I want to work seriously for Delhi especially with regard to minimising its high pollution levels. We have already announced to implement Euro VI emission norms for vehicles from April 1, 2020. Now we are thinking to provide Euro VI compliant fuel in metro cities with top priority to Delhi very soon," Road Transport and Highways Minister Gadkari told PTI.

The government is serious on this front and a high-level meeting will be held soon with participation from Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, he said.

"Pollution level is too high in metros and if we could do something for these cities, it would be much beneficial," the minister said.

Asked about the timeline for the roll out of Euro VI, he said it will be "very soon" and a final timeframe will be announced only after the high-level meeting.

An inter-ministerial group headed by Gadkari on January 6 had taken the decision to advance the date by four years to April 1, 2020 for implementation of Bharat Stage VI (equivalent to Euro VI norms followed globally) for supply of cleaner auto fuel, by altogether skipping the Euro V grade norms.

The decision came at a time when intense debate was going on rising level of pollution, while an innovative odd-even formula was being tried in the National Capital to check vehicular pollution.

India currently has Bharat Stage-III, equivalent of Euro-III specifications, across the country and BS-IV in major cities. BS-IV will be supplied in most big cities by April 2016 and all over the country from April 2017.

BS-IV fuels contain 50 parts per million (ppm) sulphur, while BS-V and BS-VI grade fuel will have 10 ppm sulphur.

On concerns raised by automakers on BS VI compliant-fuel availability, Gadkari had told them recently not to worry about availability of suitable fuel but focus on developing engines to meet the guidelines.