Government to soon allow the retrofitting of CNG kits in BS-VI vehicles

Kenneth John Updated: January 31, 2022, 02:49 PM IST

You will soon be able to upgrade your BS-VI petrol automobiles with CNG kits, which can save fuel costs by about 40 percent to 50 percent.

The idea was made public on January 27, 2022, in the form of a draft notification. Retrofitting CNG and LPG kits in motor vehicles is now permitted under the BS-VI emission standards.

The type approval criteria for retrofitting are outlined in the notification. When compared to petrol and diesel engines, CNG is an environmentally benign fuel that reduces carbon monoxide, hydrocarbon, particulate matter and smoke emissions.

India is actively promoting alternative fuel cars to replace fossil fuel automobiles. On January 17, after months of anticipation, Delhi received the first of 300 projected electric buses with women and differently abled-friendly features.

According to the ministry's draught notification, this would be permitted for cars with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of up to 3.5 tonnes, and type permits for vehicles refitted with CNG kits will be valid for three years and renewed every three years.

As Per the Delhi government, these buses would be environmentally benign since they will generate no smoke and run entirely on electricity. These 12-meter-low-floor AC E-buses will be equipped with CCTV cameras, panic buttons, and pink seats to protect women's safety. These buses will include kneeling ramps for the differently-abled people in addition to GPS and live tracking.

Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot, on Friday, said "The first prototype of the electric bus has already reached Delhi and will be inaugurated by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Monday (January 17). Fifty e-buses will be inducted into DTC's fleet by the second week of February and the target to admit 300 e-buses is likely to be achieved till April".