Road Traffic (Control of Vehicular Emissions) Regulations 2002

What the new law says:

Prior to registration:
• Every motor vehicle will have to be constructed and maintained in such a manner that smoke and noise emitted from it does not exceed the prescribed limits.

• Only petrol driven motor vehicles that shall be capable of running on unleaded petrol shall be registered as from 1st January 2003.

• No new diesel driven motor vehicle shall be registered unless it complies with opacity limit of 40% and the prescribed standard of exhaust emission as from 1st September 2003 and 1st January 2004 respectively.

• Prior to the delivery of a new or second hand imported vehicle to its owner, a dealer will have to issue a certificate testifying that the motor vehicle meets the prescribed standards relating to both exhaust and noise emissions.

Applications:

• Standards for exhaust and noise emission are now applicable for new, second hand imported and in-use petrol and diesel driven motor vehicles.

• Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Hydro Carbons (HC) emissions standards for motorcycles and autocycles have now been introduced.

• Maximum noise emission standards for all type of motor vehicles and two wheelers ranges from 79 to 92 decibel (dBA), depending on the type of vehicle.

Enforcement:
• The NTA may require a dealer to submit a motor vehicle to such test so as to verify whether standards for exhaust emission are complied with or not.

• An authorized officer from NTA, Police Department or Ministry of Environment is empowered to require a motor vehicle, including two wheelers, to undergo a test for exhaust and noise emissions if he/she believes that there are reasonable grounds warranting such tests.

• An authorized officer may issue a Prohibition Notice (P.N.) where, after the appropriate tests have been carried out on a vehicle, it is revealed that the smoke opacity exceeds 70%, or noise limits is exceeded by more then 10 decibel (dBA).

• A motor vehicle upon which a P.N. has been served shall not be operated until its defects have been remedied.

Large fleet proprietors:
• As from 1st September 2003, any owner of a fleet of 20 or more diesel vehicles should operate and maintain an approved facility which would be used to carry out exhaust and noise emission tests for ensuring that each owned motor vehicle is in conformity with the prescribed standard.

Penalty for any breach of the provisions of the regulation is a fine not exceeding Rs. 1,000/.