The City District Government Rawalpindi (CDGR) has turned a somersault on its decision to launch a crackdown on CNG-fitted vehicles including vans ferrying students to and from educational institutes.
The city government had given September 22 as a deadline to transporters to remove CNG kits placed under passengers’ seats and shift them to vehicles’ roofs as a safety measure. The administration had also asked van owners and drivers, who provide pick and drop services to students of various institutions, to completely remove CNG kits from their vehicles as they pose a constant risk to lives of students.
CDGR officials said the decision has been taken after a meeting between transporters, the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) and the Regional Transport Authority (RTA).
District Coordination Officer (DCO) Sajid Zafar told The Express Tribune that the decision has been taken after transporters conveyed their ‘concerns’ to the provincial government and the Ogra officials.
He claimed that if strict action was taken against transporters they may resort to a strike, which can create inconvenience to commuters.
“In case of the crackdown and resultant strike, we would have to provide alternative means of transport to the citizens which we can’t afford to,” he said.
He claimed that most vehicles have got fitness certificates from workshops set up by Ogra and action against such vehicles would be unjust.
He said that the RTA and the traffic police have been told not to launch a crackdown on CNG-fitted vehicles. Meanwhile, member Rawalpindi Transporters’ Union Official Muhammad Asif claimed that thousands of vehicles have fitness certificates from workshops set up by Ogra.
“We have spent thousands of rupees on obtaining fitness certificates and action against us is completely illegal,” he said.
He said that the government should also launch a crackdown on workshops selling substandard cylinders which was responsible for the loss of precious lives.
“We have been holding meetings with Ogra officials for the last two years to formulate a policy regarding CNG kits but no decision has been taken to sort out this issue,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 25th, 2013.