COMMENTARY
INTERVIEWS
SPECIALS
CHAT
ARCHIVES

Bengal rejects Maruti's time plea for Euro-fit cars

Maruti Udyog Limited managing director R S S L N Bhaskaradu today met West Bengal Chief Minister Jyoti Basu after the state government in a notification on Monday said that only vehicles conforming to the Euro norms would be allowed to be sold and registered in the state beginning July 1, 1999.

It was learnt that Bhaskaradu requested Basu to extend the date of introducing the Euro norms by at least three months.

However, Basu is believed to have rejected the proposal.

Carmakers, particulary Maruti, had been caught by surprise by the notification of the state government. MUL's plea to extend the date of implementing the notification was prompted by the facts that it has commenced production of Euro-I compliant cars from its Gurgaon factory which would take at least two-three months to reach.

The country's largest car-maker was planning to step up production of its Euro-I compliant cars to meet the demand in this eastern Indian state, MUL sources said in Delhi.

The company is producing close to 1,350 vehicles per day of which 22 per cent are reserved for Euro-I vehicles and it would now now be hiked by another 10-12 per cent to meet the demand in West Bengal.

UNI

ALSO SEE

The Euro norms and the auto industry

Business news

West Bengal