UP impounds 140 Delhi buses plying without 'permit'

Lucknow, Nov 17 (UNI) Uttar Pradesh transport authorities today impounded 140 buses of Delhi under various sections of the Motor Vehicle Act, including plying on inter-state routes without ''proper permit.'' Sources in the state transport department said here the buses were impounded or seized in various regions of UP since morning.

The move comes a day after Delhi Chief Minister Shiela Dikshit failed to meet UP transport minister Naresh Agarwal in the National Capital to resolve the deadlock on plying of UP State Road Transport Corporation (UPSRTC) CNG buses from Noida and Greater Noida to Delhi.

The state transport minister had last night announced the state government would take ''stern action against Delhi buses plying in UP, if they fail to meet the requirements laid down under the MV Act.'' Meanwhile, the additional MD of the UPSRTC told UNI over phone from Delhi that 1,200 buses of the UPSTRC were plying today to ferry passengers upto the nearest point on the Delhi-UP border. ''Our Kaushambi depot is very near the Delhi border...we are ferrying passengers upto the border point to ensure they do not face problems in reaching Delhi,'' he said.

''With Delhi transport ministeer Haroon Yusuf refusing to accept the agreement signed between the Delhi and the UP governments on plying of CNG buses from Noida and Ghaziabad to Delhi, I have ordered my top officials take all possible stern steps under the law against Delhi buses plying in UP,'' Mr Agarwal told reporters here last night after returning from New Delhi.

He claimed despite a talk over telephone, Ms Dikshit did not meet him and conveyed the talks be held at the official level. ''We will not be bullied by Delhi's action...If they claim there is no agreement, then all Delhi buses plying in UP or passing through the state are entering UP illegally,'' he said.

Describing the Delhi transport minister as ''immature,'' Mr Agarwal said Delhi should understand by not allowing UP buses to ply in Delhi, the latter would not be able to harass the former. Buses from Delhi pass through UP to enter Uttaranchal.

''The passengers should be ready to face hardships for which Delhi government is responsible. We will drop our passengers at the border point from where they can get Delhi buses to reach their destination,'' he said.

''Our door are open. If the Prime Minister or the union surface transport minister call us to resolve the deadlock we would certainly go. But, there would be no more talks with the Delhi government...there would be stern action against offenders as per the MV Act,'' he justified.

Distributing copies of the agreement reached between UP and Delhi on plying of buses, he said it was decided that for operation in Noida and Greater Noida, there would be no restriction for operation of UP and Delhi buses. These buses can be state transport undertaking owned or private buses. The only restriction would be that the buses should only run on CNG mode of fuel.

''The agreement allows Delhi to run 90,000 km in UP. But they are plying over 1.25 lakh km and not paying taxes. Whereas we are allowed only 30,000 km. Even then Mr Yusuf refuses to accept the agreement,'' he said.

UNI NAB VS VD RK1800