Following a raft of complaints over the use of substandard heavy gas cylinders in public transport by the government and the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra), the Rawalpindi deputy commissioner has ordered the seizure of such vehicles. According to information, an overwhelming majority of public transport vehicles including taxis, pick-up vans, Hiace vans and minibuses use these cylinders.
Smaller vehicles tend to have cylinders with medium-sized vehicles often fitted with two such heavy gas cylinders. Bigger buses and vehicles have the capacity to carry between three to five cylinders.
When one cylinder runs out of gas, the vehicle switches to the other cylinder. It is an economical solution as compared to running the engine on fuel.
The owners of these vehicles use the cylinders despite knowing that these cylinders are extremely dangerous and result in explosions.
Also read: Risky rides: LPG rickshaws threaten passenger safety
Those who own public transport vehicles are disregarding the safety of their employees as well as passengers, said one official at the Regional Transport Authority (RTA).
DC Hasan Waqar Cheema has issued orders to the secretary of the RTA ordering the seizure of such vehicles and the removal of these cylinders.
The RTA said that it had given 48 hours to owners of public transport vehicles to remove such cylinders while warning of a crackdown starting Monday.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 21st, 2023.
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