Covid-19 cloud hangs over BS-VI gear shift as March 31 deadline looms

Dealers are hoping their petition will be heard this week, though sources said it was unlikely to come up before March 31

India’s transition to more stringent automobile emission norms from April 1 has been clouded by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, but any decision to extend the deadline can only come from the Supreme Court.

A senior government official told Business Standard that the government would consider an extension only on the apex court’s directions.

Federation of Automobile Dealers’ Association (Fada) and a couple of two-wheeler manufacturers — including market leader, Hero MotoCorp, and Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India — had last week petitioned the court seeking an extension of the deadline for shifting to the Bharat Stage (BS)-VI emission norms