In next couple of months, it will be mandatory for all CNG and lPG kits for cars to have a guarantee-period certification. Aiming to prevent incidents of fire and other technical glitches, the Centre has decided that manufacturers of such CNG and lPG kits will need to offer guarantee on the products.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) has called the auto manufacturers to finalise a proposal by this week and make the scheme operational in the next couple of months.
“The CNP, lPG kit manufacturers have been called for a meeting with the ministry to decide on how to operationalise the guarantee scheme for the kits. The aim is to provide authentic and safe products to customers,” said a senior MoRTH official. At present, the CNG and lPG cylinders that are fitted in cars do not offer any guarantee and the consumers are a harassed lot. The MoRTH expects that in the next 3-4 months the guarantee scheme would be operationalised.
CNG and lPG are stored under different pressures and are suitable for use in vehicles that have been specially equipped to accept one of the two fuels. However, there have been incidents of fire, explosion due to defective units and there is no grievance mechanism thus it gives the manufacturers an opportunity to fleece the customers. CNG and lPG propelled car kits are available between the range of 25,000 to Rs one lakh, added the official.
Meanwhile, the second meeting of the Expert Group to negotiate SAARC Motor Vehicle Agreement began in Udaipur where Minister for Railways and Road Transport and Highways C P Joshi said the Draft SAARC Motor Vehicle Agreement will go a long way in strengthening the ties and promote multilateralism among member nations.
The 16th SAARC Summit in Thimphu, endorsed the recommendation to declare 2010-20 as the “Decade of Intra-regional Connectivity in SAARC”. It was agreed on the need to expedite negotiations with a view to finalize the agreements on Motor Vehicles and Railways. Referring to positive response to the initiative received from all member states the Joshi expressed hope to fulfill the Thimpu recommendation, according to an official statement by MoRTH.