Private bus operators have urged the state government to withdraw the condition that all “e-challan dues” need to be cleared before a vehicle is allowed to undergo the mandatory pollution test.
The owners of private buses and minibuses have made the appeal because, they said, cases involving penalties imposed through e-challans for traffic rule violations need time to get resolved.
Earlier this month, the state government had issued a notification saying vehicles that had not cleared government dues — including taxes, fines and e-challan dues — would be barred from taking the mandatory emission test for the pollution-under-control certificate.
At least three unions of bus and minibus operators have written to the transport department, with a copy sent to the police, saying e-challans issued by the police are often contestable.
There are instances of vehicles being booked for the error in noting down the registration number by a police officer, several bus and minibus operators said. There are also instances of a bus receiving a challan for a traffic rule violation when the vehicle is parked in a garage, they said.
“That is why police organise Lok Adalats where e-challan and other disputes are resolved after hearing both sides. There are flaws in the system and e-challans often get challenged,” said Rahul Chatterjee, of the All Bengal Bus and Minibus Samannay Samity.
“The state government must appreciate that a law-abiding bus owner has the right to contest an e-challan. That shouldn’t prevent him from getting his vehicle tested for the pollution-under control certificate.”
The state government’s notification says all auto emission testing centres (AETCs) have been instructed to test vehicles after verifying that the owners have cleared all dues.
“The fines for traffic rule violations have become steeper. Many bus owners are struggling with their fleet of old vehicles that have to be scrapped by the end of next year. If it becomes difficult to get a pollution certificate, operators will gradually withdraw their vehicles,” said Pradip Narayan Bose, of the West Bengal Bus and Minibus Owners Association.
“We have sought an appointment with the transport minister to flag our
concerns.”
State government officials said they were yet to have discussions on whether the notification could be tweaked in response to the appeals from the operators.