Delhi government on Tuesday extended the permit validity of taxis running on CNG and other clean fuels up to 15 years, news agency ANI reported.
Earlier, some unions and individuals had petitioned the Delhi High Court to end the difference in permit validity among the various categories of taxis operating under the contract carriage permit (Delhi NCR). The Delhi HC had instructed the Transport Department to investigate the petitioner's complaints and provide appropriate instructions, according to an official statement issued by the Delhi government.
According to the statement, the matter was investigated, and it was discovered that there is a discrepancy in the validity of the permits given to taxis operating on CNG and clean fuel within the Delhi NCR.
"Therefore, taking into consideration, all the factors and circumstances with respect to issuance/grant of Contract Carriage Delhi NCR Permit under Section 74 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 and to maintain the uniformity, it is hereby ordered that henceforth, all the Taxies plying on CNG/Clean Fuel registered in Delhi possessing Contract Carriage (Delh) NCR) Permit, the validity of the permit shall remain valid for 15 years subject to fulfillment of all other prescribed conditions as stipulates in Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, CMVR, 1989 and DN1VR, 1993," reads the official statement.
Meanwhile, according to the government's Vahan portal, which maintains a centralised database of all registered cars in India, the number of petrol, CNG, diesel, and hybrid (petrol/CNG) taxis registered annually in Delhi has decreased dramatically over the last five years.
Annual registrations for motor cabs powered by petrol, CNG, diesel and hybrid vehicles (petrol/CNG) in 2018 were 175, 187, 1,794, and 6,570, respectively. However, by 2022, registrations had declined drastically to 9, 0, 20, and 2,575.
Between 2018 and 2022, annual registrations for hybrid taxis fell by more than 60%.