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Taxis allowed to convert their engines into CNG mode by Jan 31
Mumbai, Sept 19: In a major relief to taxi owners, Mumbai High Court today extended till January 31 next the deadline for conversion of diesel engines to CNG mode but restrained cabbies from plying in the city as they contributed to the pollution.
The petitioners urged for a direction to the authorities to temporarily suspend their licences but not cancel them unless the diesel taxis were converted into CNG-run engines.
It was submitted there were 48,000 taxis in Mumbai and
15,000 of them were 137-diesel ones. Of these, 10,000 had
already converted into CNG-run engines. Only 5,000 diesel
taxis remained to be converted to get rid of pollution hazard.
Being aggrieved, the Taximen's Unions filed an appeal in
high court which allowed the vehicles to ply till April 30,
2002, and extended the period of conversion into CNG-run
engines till may end.
As the deadline expired last month, the cab owners urged
the high court for a direction to the authorities not to
cancel their registration but only suspend it until they
converted the taxis into CNG-run vehicles.
Bureau Report