Centre to put in place safety, emission standards for quadricycles

The Centre on Friday told the Supreme Court that it was considering to put in place safety and emission standards for quadricycles, a new category of commercial vehicle, meant for intra-city public transport.

A bench of Justices Adarsh Kumar Goel and U U Lalit took note of the draft notifications issued by the Ministry of Road and Transport in June, 2017 on the safety and emission standards of the quadricycles.

Additional Solicitor General Pinky Anand submitted the matter was at final stage. A group of writ petitioners contended there was an attempt to reduce the rigor of standards for the quadricycles, which was not desirable.

The court, however, asked them to submit their suggestion to the Ministry within two weeks. Instead of their suggestions being considered by us, it should be put before the competent authorities and the matter be decided expeditiously, the bench ordered and disposed of a batch of petitions.

The matter relates to the sale of small 4-wheelers with a mass upto to 1,500 kg and quadricycles.

The petitioners contended safety and emission standards must be first laid down before the vehicles of this nature were introduced in the market. If it is not so done, it may endanger safety of all concerned, they claimed.

On an appeal filed by Pune-based auto component maker SM Auto Engineering Pvt Ltd, the apex court had earlier in 2015 stayed a Karnataka High Court order of August 25, 2014 which had barred the introduction of quadricycle, which is a small motorised four-wheeler that is high on mileage, low on emissions, occupies less road space.

It is described as an excellent intra-city public transport option.

The apex court had then transferred to itself other petitions pending before different High Courts.