BS-III implementation from October

NEW DELHI: After prolonged confusion, the government has finally notified that the Bharat Stage (BS) III emission norms implementation in India, except for top 13 cities, has been postponed by six months till October 1, 2010. As per an official notification dated May 21, two and three-wheelers will now have to comply with the BS-III norms with retrospective effect from April 1 in the top 13 cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bangalore.

The notification further specified that Sholapur and Lucknow will upgrade to BS-IV norms for four-wheelers from June 1.

"BS-III shall be applicable in all states and the union territories except national capital region and the cities of Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, including, Secunderabad, Ahmedabad, Pune, Surat, Kanpur, Agra, Sholapur and Lucknow in respect to two and three-wheeler vehicles manufactured on or after October 1, 2010," it added.

Earlier, the government had notified implementing BS-IV norms for four-wheelers in top 11 cities from April 1. Later on, it was decided to add Lucknow and Sholapur to the list.

It, however, kept the issue of BS-III implementation hanging as oil marketing companies expressed inability to supply BS-III fuels to the rest of the country. A draft notification to postpone the implementation of BS-III created confusion on what norms should be adopted for two and three-three wheelers in the top 13 cities where four wheelers have upgraded to BS-IV norms.

While some manufacturers started selling BS-III bikes and scooters in the 13 cities, a few continued to sell BS-II two- wheelers. Manufacturers, including market leader Hero Honda, had encountered problems in registration of their products in these cities.

Hero Honda had stated that there were some confusion in a few markets regarding registration, arising out of different interpretations of the draft notification.