Scania gets another 6-month extension, Rs15,000 fine

Nagpur: The ethanol-run Scania bus has been given six months extension by the Central and Maharashtra governments. It was earlier given permission for six months. However, this time, the Regional Transport Office in Nagpur has imposed a fine of Rs15,000 on Scania Commercial Vehicles India Limited for letting its permit lapse.
Confirming this, state transport department sources told TOI that the extension was given up to August 2016.Sources said that SCVIL was supposed to apply for extension of permit in February but the application was submitted late. So, as per rules of Motor Vehicle Act, a fine of Rs5,000 per month was imposed and, hence, SCVIL has been asked to pay Rs15,000 as fine to Nagpur city RTO.
The ministry of road transport and highways, headed by union minister Nitin Gadkari, has sent approval of extension letter to the principal secretary (transport) Maharashtra government on April 1, 2016. But the state transport issued the extension letter to its Nagpur office only on April 20 evening.
Ever since the Swedish bus maker’s bus was brought to the city in August 2014 for a 3-month pilot project, it has been given extension three times. The bus, which plies on Wardha Road, evoked a good response from Nagpurians but it was sent frequently to other cities as a demonstration vehicle.
As compared to Starbus, the fare for ethanol-run bus, which is fully air-conditioned, is not very high. The minimum fare for Starbus is Rs8 and it is Rs10 for the ethanol-run bus.
Meanwhile, the flying squad of Regional Transport Officer (Nagpur city) DT Pawar on Thursday detained six e-rickshaws ferrying passengers illegally. These vehicles do not have any compliance certification under Central Motor Vehicles Rules (CMVR), 1989. The e-rickshaws will be penalized and impounded under the Motor Vehicle Act, 1988, said the RTO office.