Govt lifts ban on retrofitting CNG kits for in-use cars

Much to the relief of motorists, the Delhi government on Friday lifted the ban on registration of ‘in-use’ vehicles retrofitted with CNG kits. The retrofitted CNG kits will now be allowed – as long as car manufacturers certify them.

The retrofitted cars will now again be registered after the original vehicle manufacturer certifies that the kits installed are authentic. The temporary ban was imposed on June 20 on petrol-run cars, which are retrofitted with CNG kits in Delhi after purchase. The transport department received complaints of sub-standard and uncertified kits being supplied to customers.

It had then asked its Motor Licensing Officers (MLOs) to not register vehicles that have been retrofitted with CNG kits till further orders. “Manufacturers like Hyundai, Tata, Maruti have been asked to give certification and only after that the retrofitment will be permitted. They have agreed to do so,” said K K Dahiya, Special Commissioner, Transport.

The department is also working on a software where the manufacturers, dealers, and retrofitment centres will upload the details of the kits supplied.  “We will then match the trail to rule out the possibility of fake parts or fake kits. The software is near finalisation and once it is tested, we will put it in place,” Dahiya said.

After reports of unapproved kits being used and a complaint by a private company with the department, the government had sent Transport officials to inspect offices of registered CNG kit manufacturers as part of an inquiry. It had also filed a complaint with the Delhi Police regarding use of spurious kits and the matter was being investigated.

The business for many manufacturers had dwindled after the ban and a number of representations from them, CNG kit manufacturers and retrofitters were received to revoke the ban order.