The Deccan Chronicle   06.09.2010

Sept. 5: The Metropolitan Transport Corporation is all set to introduce Bharat Stage IV (BS IV)-certified buses to reduce air pollution in the city. The state government has already passed the orders following the National Auto Fuel Policy, which insists on use of BS IV-certified engines in major Indian cities, including Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur, Lucknow, Sholapur and Agra.

“The transport corporation will introduce 150 new buses with BS IV-compliant engines by next month. It will be a move from MTC to reduce pollution from city transport buses while increasing the total capacity and strengthening the public transport system,” said MTC managing director V. Paulraj.

A senior MTC official told this newspaper that the purchase of BS IV-compliant buses will be expensive by 15-20 per cent, compared to BS II and BS III models. “These new vehicles are expected to reduce emission in Chennai. Tamil Nadu is introducing this system in Chennai as the city is marked by the auto fuel policy report of the Central government for taking stricter steps considering the high levels of air pollution,” said a senior official of the state transport department.

Thirteen metro cities already have BS III emission regulations and the Centre recently decided to implement BS IV emission norms in these cities so as to reduce vehicular emission. According to the state transport corporation, Chennai has 1.67 lakh transport vehicles and MTC is expected to buy 150-200 new buses by this year-end.

“Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board is operating more than 150 emission-checking centres in Chennai and we do check the emission levels of MTC buses also. The level of carbon monoxide in the city is above permissible limits,” said a TNPCB official.