BICYCLE MANUFCATURERS AND OTHER ASSOCIATIONS DELEGATION MEET UNION TRANSPORT MINISTER NITIN GADKARI

Seek Extension Of At least Six Months For Implementation Of DIPP Order For Mandatory Use Of Specific Quality Of Reflectors For Bi-Cycles .
New Delhi/Ludhiana, August 31, 2016 A delegation consisting of representatives of Indian Bicycle Manufacturers Association (IBMA) along with United Cycle and Parts Manufacturing Association (UCPMA), Industrial Development Council , Punjab last late evening met the Union Minister of Transport and Highways Mr Nitin Gadkari to seek his intervention for putting Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) under Ministry of commerce order making it mandatory for bicycle manufacturers to use of specific reflectors on the bicycle from September 1, 2016 at abeyance for at least six months .

Those who were present in the delegation included Mr R D Sharma, President, IBMA, Mr Manjit Singh Khalsa, President Punjab Laghu Udyog Sangathan and Chairman Punjab Industrial development council, Mr Charanjit Vishwakarma, President ,UCPMA and Mr Anuj Sharma , Chairman, E Rikshaw committee, Ministry of Transport & Highways.

“The delegation also urged the Minister to stop the implementation of DIPP order till newer guidelines are framed by the government on implementation of the order and who will monitor that the new bicycles are being fitted with the specific reflectors and what will happen to bicycles already on roads with traditional reflectors and replacement of damaged reflectors” said Mr R D Sharma , President , Indian Bicycle Manufacturers Association (IBMA) , who led the delegation to the minister.
“The Union Minister Nitin Gadkari assured the delegation to help in getting the date for implementation extended for once and last time by writing to the concerned ministry of commerce and DIPP.” Said MR R D Sharma
“IBMA also requested the Union Transport and Highway Minister for making bi-cycle lanes mandatory on all new roads being constructed in various parts of the country. This will help in reducing fatal road accidents of bicycle riders “ said Mr Sharma.

“The Hon’ble Supreme Court had formed a committee on Road Safety which has made mandatory use of specific reflectors on the bicycle which are not currently manufactured in India and have to be imported from China. This decision is being implemented through Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) under Ministry of commerce making it mandatory from September 1. We have also requested Prime Minister to intervene as to stop the implementation of order till the recommended specific reflectors are made in India” said Mr Manjit Singh Khalsa, Chairman, Industrial Development corporation, and President Punjab Laghu Udyog Sangathan

“This order has created lot of complications not only jeopardizing the “MAKE IN INDIA” mission of the Country but also forcing closure of hundreds of MSME units of bicycle manufacturers as well as the existing companies manufacturing reflectors presently being used by the industry . Reflectors with these standards (ISO-6742, international standard) are manufactured by only one company named Satellite in China. This decision is not only creating monopoly for one Chinese company but also putting a question mark why a product which is currently not manufactured in India is being made mandatory.” Said Mr Charanjit Singh Vishwakarma,United Cycle and Parts Manufacturing Association (UCPMA)

“Set of Ten reflectors recommended by the committee are already being used with all bicycle manufacturers, but the new specifications set by Supreme court committee are Global standard not BIS specific . The decision only helping Chinese manufacturer As per experts It will take at least one year to get the said manufacturing technology in India and put up new units with the said standards but implementing the above decision from 1st Sept’16 has left the bicycle manufacturers with only one alternative to import it from above Chinese company and also closure of existing MSME units.” He added.

“As the current reflectors are already being manufactured in India by local industry employing lakhs of workers it is very unfair to suddenly change the standards and close existing industry. For the last almost 70 years there was no law for bicycle rider safety and this decision is highly appreciated but it should be implemented in stages without any side effects. Reflectors being manufactured in India are equally good but reflection is not from the specific angles which is in reflectors made by Chinese company. It is worth mentioning that above international standards (ISO-6742) is fixed keeping in mind the roads, lighting arrangements and weather conditions in European countries and not necessarily be suitable for Indian roads.” Said Mr Sharma.

“Therefore, IBMA requests that the order should be put at abeyance for Six months till the specific product (reflectors are manufactured in India. Simultaneously, industry should be given one year time to develop new reflectors as per (ISO-6742) so that existing industry could import technology in stead of importing finished goods from china and from next year new standard should be made mandatory.”he said.