PIONEER EDGE NEWS SERVICE/Dehradun
The president of the City Bus Union, Vijay Vardhan Dandriyal has written to Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, seeking a CBI inquiry into alleged corruption in the transport sector. He alleged that the officials from the Automatic Research Association of India (ARAI) Pune, vehicle dealers and the Transport Commissioner’s office had colluded to overrule the definition of M2 vehicles (Tata Magic) mandated by the Central government, leading to corruption. He made this allegation while speaking to the media here on Thursday.
“ARAI Pune vehicle dealers and the transport department have conspired to overrule the definition of M2 vehicles. A 10-seater M2 vehicle was approved by ARAI Pune on July 25, 202 and registered as an M2 vehicle by the Transport commissioner’s office on September 24, 2022. Further, the M2, approved for a seating capacity of 10 persons, received approval on March 10, 2023,” he said.
He said that these approval certificates mention neither a half-body canopy nor a fully built vehicle. “The vehicle is listed as having a fully built body with seating for 10 people in a certificate dated January 31, 2025, issued by ARAI Pune. The total weight of the vehicle, whether covered with tarpaulin or tin sheets, is reported to be 1,760 kg with 10 passengers aboard,” he said.
Dandriyal referred to a notification from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) dated September 23, 2021, which specifies that the minimum length for M2 vehicles must be 3,790 mm. “However,” he pointed out, “The vehicle in question is six-seven inches shorter than this requirement, raising question on why the Transport headquarters overlooked this measurement while approving the vehicle and disregarded the standards framed by the Central government,” he said.
He urged the authorities concerned to investigate the alleged corruption involving ARAI Pune, vehicle dealers and those running the Transport Commissioner’s office in overruling the definition of M2 vehicles as mandated by the Central government.
Dandriyal called for the cancellation of the registration of these vehicles, stating it is against the rules framed by the Central government. He said he had provided copies of his letter to the Transport secretary, Transport commissioner and RTO Dehradun Administration for necessary action.
