The Delhi Transport Department has lifted its ban on registration of new Bharat Stage III (BS-III) compliant two-wheelers in the nation's capital. With the ban lifted, two-wheelers launched before April 1, 2016 will be eligible to be sold in the NCR region. The move certainly comes as a respite for bike makers including the likes of Royal Enfield, Bajaj Auto and Suzuki, each of which launched their offerings in the country earlier this month.
The unprecedented ban on registration of new BS-III compiant two-wheelers ensured a host of bikes were barred including the Royal Enfield Himalayan, Bajaj V15, new Suzuki Access 125 and Hayate. The ban imposed earlier this month stated that the newly launched two-wheelers had to comply with BS-IV norms, despite an earlier order mandating that two-wheelers launched before April 1 this year will be allowed to go on sale and be registered.
Suzuki Access 125
Nevertheless, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) raised the matter with the Delhi government and a solution was brought to the issue. As per the previous government notification issued, all existing two-wheelers will have to be upgraded to BS-IV emission regulations till March 31, 2017, in order to comply with the new emission standards. With respect to cars, the country presently follows BS-IV emission norms in major metros, while smaller cities and towns are allowed to comply with BS-III emission regulations. The government has proposed to bring BS-VI norms for cars by the end of this decade, skipping BS-V entirely in a bid to curb rising pollution levels.
With the issue being resolved, Royal Enfield announced the commencement of Himalayan's sales in Delhi priced at Rs. 1.73 lakh (on-road, Delhi), just a day before the deadline. Bajaj too will commence sales of the V15 priced at Rs. 61,999, while the Suzuki Access is priced at Rs. 53,887 (all prices, ex-showroom Delhi).
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