Vehicles with unfit gas cylinders still on roads

ICTA, transport authority drag their feet over implementing orders

ISLAMABAD: Even after a deadly accident at the Islamabad Toll Plaza in which gas cylinders allegedly exploded and claimed the lives of 13 people, the regional transport authorities and district administration in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi have turned a blind eye to vehicles which are operating with unfit gas cylinders installed.

The different regulatory and law enforcing authorities in the two cities however, appear to be dragging their feet over implementing the relevant orders in this regard and appear happy to pass the blame on.

After a host of deadly accidents in recent years, Islamabad Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqat had taken notice of the poor condition of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) cylinders in private and public transport vehicles and had banned their use in the wider public interest.

He had further directed all relevant authorities to remove the deadly cylinders from vehicles, especially from school vans. However, the orders seem to have been disregarded by the related officials, even by the District Transport Authority secretary.

Moreover, even the federal interior ministry seems to be unmoved over the issue.

When asked, a senior official of the Islamabad Police told The Express Tribune on the condition of anonymity that not even a single vehicle installed with gas cylinders has been seized nor has any case been registered against any such vehicle owner in the past year.

When confronted with this, a senior official of the district administration said that they have done their part by issuing orders to bar the installation of local CNG kits and that it was now incumbent on the Islamabad Transport Authority (ITA) secretary to ensure that the orders are implemented.

ASI Gulsher, who introduced himself as the in-charge of a three-member team formed by the ITA Secretary Bushra Rao against all vehicles with unfit gas cylinders installed, told The Express Tribune that they had forced owners of school vans to remove as many as 100 CNG cylinders just a few weeks ago on the instructions by the deputy commissioner.

However, he conceded that there were still thousands of school vans operating in the twin cities which continue to operate with unfit gas cylinders installed in them. 

Published in The Express Tribune, May 2^nd, 2019.