Taking into account the severe pollution levels in Delhi, the Centre has decided to roll out stricter fuel norms from…
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Taking into account the severe pollution levels in Delhi, the Centre has decided to roll out stricter fuel norms from April, two years earlier than scheduled, in the national capital. With this, all new vehicles in Delhi will have to be BS-VI compliant.
This is likely to make the cars, SUVs and other vehicles more expensive, according to experts.
Bharat Stage-VI fuel norms will be implemented in Delhi from 1 April 2018, two years ahead of the April 2020 deadline, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas announced. The move is an effort to reduce vehicular emissions and improve fuel efficiency in the capital, the ministry said.
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The decision was taken in consultation with oil marketing companies.
Indian Oil, Bharat Petroleum and Hindustan Petroleum have been asked to look at the possibility of introducing the new auto fuels in the entire National Capital Region ~ which includes places like Gurugram, Faridabad and Noida ~ from April 2019.
Automakers were so far required to be ready with the BS-VI compliant vehicles by 1 April 2020. Now with the new deadline for fuel, automakers will have to sell BS-VI compliant vehicles from next year.
The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had introduced the BS-IV grade transportation fuels across the country in April this year. Now looking at the rising pollution levels, it has decided to switch from BS-IV directly to BS-VI grade.
Oil refining companies are said to be making huge investments in upgradation projects to produce the BS-VI grade fuels.
The air quality in Delhi continues to be a health hazard as pollution levels have crossed dangerous levels with the air quality index recently hitting a peak of 486 on a scale of 500.
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