NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet on Thursday approved a proposal relating to India joining 1998 agreement on Global Technical Regulations for Motor Vehicles, being administered by the Working Party-29 (World Forum for Harmonisation of Vehicle Regulations) of Economic Commission for Europe (ECE), a body of the United Nations (UN-ECE), to enjoy certain advantages available only to those countries that are signatories to it.

The country will have to establish and enforce Global Technical Regulations for Wheeled Vehicles, Equipment and Parts, which can be fitted and / or used on wheeled vehicles.

The proposal cleared by the Cabinet envisages retention and continuation of the National Standing Committee functioning in the Department of Road Transport and Highways to regularly appraise the outcomes and recommend further course of action.

However, the department decided on joining the 1998 Agreement at an appropriate time based on the inputs received from the National Standing Committee. Following this, it will take appropriate decisions on setting up of a dedicated body.

Certain advantages will accrue to India as a result of joining the agreement.

One of the advantages that would accrue is that design specifications of vehicles do not have to be changed to meet country-specific regulations. Also common specifications of vehicle parts will reduce the cost of development/production, and retail price of vehicles.

Another advantage will be that it will also make approval procedures easier, expand the scope of the market and provide the consumers with a wider range of choice. It will aid the forces of competition among manufacturers, leading to increased supply of vehicles with better performance and economy of scales.

By joining the agreement, India will be enhancing its access to a set of benchmark regulations to measures safety and environmental performance of vehicles, domestically manufactured /imported and also facilitate export of motor vehicles.

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