Training Workshop on BS VI

Date: February 3, 2020

Venue: IMC Building, Veer Nariman Road, Mumbai

Centre for Science and Environment, a New Delhi Based Think Tank and Advocacy group organized a workshop on Preparedness for BS VI in Maharashtra. The event was held in collaboration with the State Transport Department.

India is one of the very few nations to leapfrog to BS VI from the existing BS IV norms. The workshop was a stepping stone for the Transport Department to engage multiple stakeholders on the expected challenges fpor the rollout of BS VI in the state. The workshop was well attended by officers from over 38 Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) of the state, along with officials from Brihan Mumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), BEST, Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB), MSRTC, Nagpur Gramin Seva, and the journalists from PTI and Hindustan Times. The committee of experts included Ms Anumita Roychowdhury (CSE), Satish Sahasrabuddhe (Additional Transport Commissioner, Maharashtra), A N Bhalchandra (Joint Transport Commissioner, Maharashtra), Anup Bandivadekar (ICCT), S S Thipse (ARAI), P. Sakthivel (IOCL) and Zubeen Garg (IOCL).

The additional transport commissioner also discussed the completed PUC audit in Mumbai, which was conducted by CSE and Transport Department. This is the first step towards getting Maharashtra to be BS VI ready.

Some of the key messages that were highlighted during the workshop were:

The workshop is an attempt by the transport department to stay ahead of the curve and sensitize the RTOs on the risks of tampering the of filters in the new BS VI regime
BS VI is truly disruptive, as with this India is close to achieving fuel neutral standards. There will now be a paradigm shift in diesel emission control systems with the diesel particulate filters (DPF), lean NOx traps (LNT), selective catalytic reduction (SCR), and Exhaust gas recirculation (EGR).
The system is more complex and expensive and more challenging to maintain. Training is required for PUC centre operators and RTOs.
Anup Bandivadekar had tailor made sessions for RTOs, fleet managers and drivers. These included additional information like the Free Acceleration Test, Revision of PUC norms and complementing the existing PUC system with other techniques such as remote sensing
80% of the Indian automotive sector is comprised of two-wheelers and this is an extremely price sensitive sector. Introduction of BS VI will alter the dynamics of this segment
BS VI will have greater engine control strategy, modified engine combustion cycles, exhaust heat recovery and heat transfer reduction, all of which leads to far greater engine efficiency
IOC ClearBlue is compatible with engines fitted with SCR and 90% of the retail outlets on the highways in Maharashtra have access.
Quality of DEF (diesel exhaust fluid) is of utmost importance in BS VI, especially in India where adulteration of fuel is rampant