The recent decision of the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to allow vintage and classic vehicles to ply on the roads for rallies and exhibitions in the national capital was met with much applause amongst car owners and enthusiasts who were part of the 52nd edition of The Statesman Vintage and Classic Car rally held on Sunday.
Many of the participants in the rally ~ who till few months before were uncertain about the future of their cherished yesteryears beauties ~ welcomed the NGT order and termed it a right move towards the preservation of this heritage for the next generation.
Prem Kumar Sharma, 69, who owns Austin 1948, said the removal of the ban was a long pending demand from the vintage car owners, “which was finally met”.
“After the ban imposed by the NGT, owning a vintage car that you can’t drive was the most heartbreaking. At least, we can now freely drive our cars in different rallies and exhibitions,” Sharma said.
Sharma, who is participating in the Statesman car rally for the past 6 years, said to maintain the vintage cars it is mandatory to drive them or otherwise these vehicles are vulnerable to caught rust. In 2014, NGT had banned diesel cars older than 15 years from plying on Delhi roads to help curb the increase in air pollution.