Vintage car aficionados in the national capital have a reason to rejoice.
In a breather to several classic car lovers, the National Green Tribunal on Tuesday allowed the vintage cars to ply on roads “for exhibitions, rallies and maintenance” and exempted them from the ambit of the ban on 15-year-old vehicles.
At the same time, it observed that the applicant association of vintage car owners should contribute to environment conservation by planting trees and providing dust bins.
A bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar said that vintage cars which satisfy prescribed norms under the Motor Vehicles Act would be allowed to run.
The tribunal in a November 26, 2014 order had banned from Delhi roads cars which were over 15 years old, thus disqualifying vintage cars from participating in any rally.
While granting the relief to the vintage cars, the green panel referred to Rule 92 (2)(c) of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 and Section 59 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, which grants exemption to “antique/vintage” vehicles.
“We direct that antique cars which satisfy prescribed norms under the Motor Vehicles Act would be allowed to ply on the road for exhibitions, rallies and maintenance and will not be allowed otherwise.
“We also observe that the applicant association as part of their corporate social responsibility would make contribution towards environment by planting trees and providing dust bins which would help in improving the ambient air quality of Delhi,” the bench also comprising Justice U D Salvi said.
The order came on a plea filed by Heritage Motoring Club of India, whose president is senior advocate KTS Tulsi.
The NGT order allowing vintage cars for exhibitions, rallies and maintenance is a positive verdict to save the rich cultural heritage. We will keep the fight on. We will try that vintage cars are allowed even on the weekends,” Madan said.