GRAP Stage-II imposition halts BS-IV buses, public transport takes a hit

The movement of BS-IV compliant buses in the National Capital Region (NCR) has been halted in view of the imposition of Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to curb air pollution by the Commission for Air Quality Control. This has rendered around 16 per cent of the buses of the Transport Department here unfit for movement. These buses have been grounded or diverted to routes other than in Delhi or the NCR.

While the local depot of the Haryana Roadways (Transport Department) is already faced with a shortage of buses and infrastructure, the ban on the movement of BS-IV (euro) compliant vehicles, in wake of the imposition of the GRAP- II, has led to a further strain on public transport, claimed sources in the district administration. The local depot is left with 109 buses as 21 BS-IV compliant ones would now not be able to ply in the NCR due the pollution norms, it is reported.

Though five to six such buses have been sent to depots that are outside the NCR limits, around 15 buses remain grounded at the local depot. The number of BS-VI emission norms compliant buses is around 40 in the depot here. Under the BS-IV emission norms the petrol motor vehicles can emit up to 80 mg/km of Nitrogen Oxide (NO2), the BS-VI emission norms allow up to 60mg/km of NO2. The particulate matter (PM) emissions for petrol vehicles is also set at 4.5mg/km under the BS-VI norms.

The department is also faced with a shortage of buses and related infrastructure, it is reported. The depot, which needs at least 200 buses has only around 130 left. Of these too, many may remain off the road due to several factors, including pollution norms, breakdowns or shortage of staff, it is claimed.

The depot is dependent on a staff of 15 personnel against the requirement of around 40 trained mechanics, said an employee on the condition of anonymity.

Meanwhile, the proposal of starting an electric bus facility for the city still remains on files only as the department is yet to get a nod. Though the depot has 50 CNG-based city buses at present, all the other buses run on diesel. As the state government had announced to induct a fleet of 50 electric buses (battery operated) by June this year, the authorities concerned are required to ensure all the buses, originating or terminating, in the NCR run on CNG or batteries by June 30, 2026.

Mool Chand Sharma, a former transport minister and Ballabgarh MLA, said the matter of electric buses had been under the purview of the state and Centre governments and was likely to be implemented soon.