Ban on retrofitting CNG kits: Delhi govt changes its mind again

On June 20, the transport department directed its motor licensing officers (MLOs) not to register vehicles retrofitted with CNG kits till further orders.

The Delhi government Thursday deferred its decision to revoke the ban on retrofitting CNG kits in “in-use” vehicles, only two days after Transport Minister Satyendar Jain said the transport department will begin the registrations again. The ban was imposed last week after the government received complaints about “unapproved and uncertified” kits being supplied to unsuspecting customers.

However, Jain said Thursday, “The government has decided to revoke the ban only after the transport department inspects all registered manufacturers and distributors in the city which supply CNG fuel kits to retro-fitment centres… after we received a complaint that some manufacturers were supplying unapproved and uncertified CNG fuel kits, the government banned the retrofitting of kits in ‘in-use’ cars. Transport department officials were sent to inspect offices of six registered manufacturers as part of the inquiry we were conducting. They found that most of the manufacturers were operating in suspect circumstances out of one-room shops.”

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“Our initial findings showed that the initial complaint was made by rival groups trading in this field. So, we will first inspect all registered CNG kit manufactures and then take a call on revoking the ban,” said the minister.

On June 20, the transport department directed its motor licensing officers (MLOs) not to register vehicles retrofitted with CNG kits till further orders. However, on Tuesday, Jain said the order to the MLOs would be revoked in a few days. A police complaint was also filed by the transport department in this regard.