BENGALURU: Several two-wheeler dealers across the city have reported no sale of two-wheelers with engine capacity of less than 100 cc after the state government passed an order imposing a ban on pillion riding on such vehicles. Sales have been hit as prospective customers feel that they would have to incur additional cost for making modifications to such vehicles after purchasing them or fear being left in the lurch without permission for registration.
According to estimates by automobile industry analysts, sale of vehicles below 100 cc accounts for about 5.3 per cent of the total vehicle sales in the city. Moreover, four days after the order regarding the ban was passed, motorcycle dealers in the city still have no clarity on what they should do with the existing stock. The Transport Department on Monday issued an order following high court directions which was hearing a case.
Kasturi, a dealer of TVS motorcycles, said that as people are apprehensive, there has been no sales of vehicles with engine capacity of below 100 cc since Monday. “There is no clarity yet on what will happen to the existing stock. We are only hopeful that the government will make amendments to the Act and give us more clarity,” he added.
Another dealer, who did not wish to be named, said, “Our sales of such vehicles are almost nil. Those which were sold on Monday are being registered in the Koramangala Road Transport Organisation (RTO). Registrations have been stopped in all other RTOs. We are sending our vehicles there.”
Similar is the case at Hero showrooms as well.
“On an average, we sell about 100 Splendor motorcycles in a month. For the past four days, there have been no sales,” said Narayana, one of the dealers. He added that there was no communication from the company regarding the existing stock.
Amendments to Act sought
According to the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), this is the first time in the country that such a ban has been imposed. The Society will now write to the state government to bring amendments to the Act.
Sugato Sen, deputy director general, SIAM said that there are no such provisions in the Central Motor Vehicles Act either. “There are several popular models of motorcycles that are just below 100 cc. Many of them are 99 cc. SIAM will approach the state government seeking a revision of this provision of the motor vehicles rules,” he said.
Karnataka Motor Vehicles Rules 1989
Sources in the Transport Department said that the state is contemplating making amendments to the Act. Confirming this, Transport Commissioner B Dayananda said, “We are looking at the legal implications and trying to understand what amendments can be made to the Act so as to address the issues of manufacturers.” He added that registrations were on only for those vehicles which had proof of sale before the notification was issued.
