The president of Dehradun City Bus association, Vijay Vardhan Dandariyal has alleged that old vehicles declared not capable for operation in other States were registered in the transport offices of State and many such vehicles were provided commercial permits.
He expressed apprehension that many such vehicles are ferrying passengers on Char Dham Yatra putting their lives at peril.
Addressing newsmen here on Thursday, Dandariyal said that he got information that one such vehicle number UA 07 M 8325 is registered in Haridwar RTO office and is provided permit number CC-1634 to operate in Garhwal region including hills. Similarly a bus disposed off from Himachal Transport Cooperation is registered in Vikasnagar office (No- UK 16 PA-0049), this vehicle was provided permit number UK/ 7/ CC/ Bus/ 2016/177 and is operational in Dehradun – Pauri region, including hills. He further claimed that many such vehicles are plying on Vikasnagar- Dakpathar route. Dandariyal said that when he sought status of these vehicles under Right to Information (RTI), he was told by the department that information cannot be provided as department is at present having Vahan – IV software. Putting the transport department in dock for registering Bharat stage III vehicles like Volvo buses, buses of roadways, tractors and other four wheelers even though Union government had notified that vehicles made after October 01, 2015 should conform the Bharat Stage IV norms. He said that two new city buses conforming Bharat state IV norms were purchased by the city bus operators in Dehradun though these buses were costlier. The President of the association said that two set of norms cannot be followed in one city and demanded that all BS III vehicles registered after October, 2015 should be confiscated. Alleging corruption in issuance of permits to old discarded buses and registration of BS III vehicles, Dandariyal sought a through inquiry on the sensitive issue.