The black and yellow cabs and auto rickshaws plying on the road might not be as safe as it looks.
Sources have revealed that the public vehicles are operating without a proper check up of the compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks which risks the safety of passengers.
According to sources, the vehicle drivers avoid testing as the price for it has gone up from Rs 1500 to Rs 4000 in private testing centres.
These private centres install plates on these tanks which are a determinant of fitness of the CNG tanks. Without the plates, the CNG pumps don't provide gas to the taxis and autos in the city.
"It is no doubt dangerous. But the drivers don't have such a huge sum of money to spend on testing their taxis and autos. The government should do something about it," said AL Quadros, union leader of Mumbai's Taximens Union.
In case of any leakage which goes undetected a, there is a risk of the vehicle catching fire. In most of the cases, the entire vehicle gets charred. Sources in the Regional Transport Office have said that they can do very little about the cost testing the CNG tanks as it does not fall under their jurisdiction.
To add to the trouble, the price of CNG has also been increased with effect from April 1.
PRICE HIKE
- Vehicle drivers avoid testing their CNG tanks as the price for it has gone up from Rs 1500 to Rs 4000 in private testing centres
- To add to the it, the price of CNG has also been increased with effect from April 1. It has been increased bt Rs 1.23 per kg
TANK TESTING
WHY IS TESTING CNG TANK IMPORTANT?
These tanks store the gas which is supplied to the vehicle. In case of any leakage in it, there are chances of the vehicle catching fire.
ROLE OF THE TESTING CENTRES
The testing centres install plates on these tanks which determines the fitness of these tanks. Without these plates, the CNG pumps don’t provide gas to these taxis and autos.
