Re: Vehicle registration & renewal charges to be hiked by 20 times (2019) Circulating one more slightly modified draft letter below to help our fellow members.
To
The Joint Secretary (MVL)
Ministry of Road Transport and Highways,
Transport Bhawan,
New Delhi 110 001 Dated 15/08/2019
Sir,
With reference to the notification by your Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways no. GSR 523(E) dated 24-07-2019, proposing hikes in re-registration/ fitness charges for 15 year or older motor vehicles, I wish to present my comments and objections.
The proposed increase in re-registration/ fitness charges for 15 year or older motor vehicles (hereinafter referred as The Proposal) is draconian & will hit the middle class and economically weaker sections very hard. The notification is aimed at wiping out the older automobiles from the map.
A properly maintained more than 15 year old vehicle is no more polluting than a less aged vehicle. The government should aim for strict implementation of its pollution check and fitness test methods. It is seen that these checks and methods are not at all adhered to by the Govt agencies. Taking undue advantage of this by a section of the people they run their vehicles unfit for public roads and pose danger to all road users and health hazard to everyone.
It is not very clear who benefits from The Proposal. Govt will get only a little by way of enhanced registration charges. Most of the money will go to the Automobile manufacturers because people will be forced to buy new cars.
The common man, whose interest should be foremost while framing govt policies, does not benefit at all. In fact he loses much more. He will be forced to sell his old car at a much-reduced prices and buy a new car. One more new car will only add to more pollution and chaos to the already congested roads. The Proposal will also result in greater non-compliance by thousands of such vehicle owners. The non- compliance rate is already alarming. The Proposal is also crippling for vintages and classics, which include motor vehicles 50 years or older, as defined in the NGT Principal Bench Delhi, judgment, of December 2017. These are rarely used and on an average are on the road once or twice every month.
Such vehicles need to be preserved for posterity for future generations. As such, it can be observed that ten of thousands of members of the public witness the grand spectacle viz Vintage Car Rallies, held annually in many cities and metros and feel joyous seeing history on wheels, on the move.
Any irrational, unjust and disproportionate tax hike on such vehicles may discourage owners and result in their step by step annihilation from the country. Vintage and classic automobile owners are already a harried lot, with the tax burdens and non-availability of spares and without any support whatsoever, from the government.
Internationally, most developed countries follow user-friendly motor vehicle provisions for such vintages and classics, encouraging their ownership by aficionados. The United Kingdom has abolished MoT tests (fitness tests) for motor vehicles older than 1960, more than a year back. We are adapting the best global practices in many spheres and need to do so for vintages and classics too. Any irrational and avoidable tax hike in respect of these classes of motor vehicles will be retrograde and will deal a blow to the existing, meagre numbers of such vehicles.
The ownership of older vintages and classics vehicles with enthusiasts are in the thousands, who are doing their best possible, wholeheartedly and are keen to preserve their family vehicle in many cases, which has been with the family since ages. These have been certified as non - polluting as per mandatory tests and have been issued fitness certificate/s every five years by the Transport Department, paying nominal amounts. Any irrational, unjust and unwarranted hike will totally jeopardize ownership of the family heirloom, which is not in consonance with the family's sentiments and unlimited love for the old vehicle, spanning through several generations. The Proposal is for older private cars is from the existing Rs. 600 to Rs. 15,000 and for two wheelers, it is hiked to Rs. 2000 from the existing Rs 50. The total number of cars and two wheelers falling in the vintage and classic category may be a few thousands in the country and such hikes will not generate any sizeable revenue of any kind for the government. It will only act as another harassment for those who own a well maintained more than 15 year old vehicle.
With the older motor vehicles aged 15 plus getting off the roads, as is the objective of such a notification, tens of thousands of garages that earn by repairing old automobiles will shut down. And this will entail job losses to the tune of lakhs of workers, who are employed in such garages. In a poor country like India, such drastic and short-sighted measures have been time tested as proven failures.
Ancillary industries mostly the Medium and Small Scale Enterprises (MSME's) and original equipment (OE) spares makers, who manufacture and supply such spares will face slowdowns and closures again resulting in job layoffs for lakhs of workers throughout the country. Many wholesalers and retail shops will also face similar slowdown and closures, if the older automobiles go off the roads.
I would like to argue that buying a new car should be heavily taxed so that people are dissuaded from adding automobiles to the congestion and pollution. A 100 time increase in new car registration charges should makes sense.
I would also like to point out that Govt should put all its weight in strict enforcement of Pollution checks and Fitness test for older vehicles. This will weed out the unfit vehicles and force the owners to take anti pollution measures. Commercial vehicles who owns a major share in the category of polluting and unfit vehicles should be dealt with severely.
In this way Govt will achieve the National Green Tribunal objective of reducing pollution from older vehicles.
In the end my request is to roll back The Proposal in interest of vehicle owners and entities who are collectively associated with keeping these fit through supply of spares and repairing these in workshops.
Yours faithfully,
( Name and address )
Last edited by fordday : 15th August 2019 at 21:12.
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