Finally, commercial vehicles manufacturer Bajaj Tempo decided to react. Years after producing several thousand Minidors’, the six-seater three-wheeler that is popularly used for public transport, from the Bajaj Tempo stables, and long after sustained opposition and charges of air and noise pollution made against these vehicles, the company has finally thought fit to react.

Chairman and managing director Abhay Firodia, in a first ever press conference in years, said the Minidor was a new generation three wheeler, that its noise levels were lower than any other diesel engine three wheeler, and that it definitely was not polluting. And he had documents to prove it, from none other than the redoubtable Automobile Research Association of India.

In fact, he said the Minidor even met the Euro II norms (although these are yet to be notified for three wheelers), let alone meet the Euro I norms. "The Minidor is the result of the latest technology and advanced R&D efforts. It employs the latest technology in emission control -- the Mercedes combustion chamber in a water cooled indirect diesel engine," emphasised Mr. Firodia.

Reacting to the opposition to the vehicle on city roads, which Mr. Firodia termed as emanating from ''vested interests'', he said the problems were more regulatory than intrinsic to the vehicle. He describes the vehicles as a ''specially designed environment friendly and safe vehicle," with comfortable seating, independent rear suspension for torsion bars and dual circuit braking with self adjuster for high safety.

Ever since the six seaters came on the Indian roads, notably in cities like Pune where three-seater autorickshaws were already entrenched, they have caused much heartburn. For one, they offered a cheaper alternative to three-seater vehicles, by virtue of their fare-by-seat tariff rather than fare-by-distance, and a more efficient alternative to the infrequent bus service. Since the fares charged were almost on par with that of buses, added to the convenience of flagging it down anywhere on the road and getting off just as conveniently, they got ready acceptance from the bus-using public.

This very proliferation has resulted in the heartburn. For one, it was a direct threat to three-seater autorickshaw operators who have been working hard to get them banned from city roads -- including going on strike a number of times and filing court cases. To the extent that it succeeded in obtaining a High Court order to ban the entry of six seater autorickshaws within city limits -- which order is shortly due for enforcement.

The hardest hit was the Pune municipal transport which ran public bus services and saw dwindling passenger loads, finally being forced to introduce Janata buses that offered boarding and alighting anywhere, enroute.

The non-six seater commuting public has reacted with annoyance and disdain. The popular perception is that the six seaters are both noisy and polluting, add to the indiscipline on the roads with their overcrowding and unregulated stops. The looks too haven''t been endearing.

Mr. Firodia discounts the allegations on all fronts, saying the problems are primarily regulatory. As for noise, he maintains that the Minidor has noise levels that are lower than any other diesel engine three-wheeler. "The indirect water cooled jacket used in these machines reduces the noise considerably," he maintains.

The engines are designed to be non-polluting for the fuel it is designed for, that is, diesel. As opposed to a permissible Euro I norm of 2.72 gm/km of carbon monoxide (CO), 0.97 of hydrocarbon (HC) and oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and 0.14 levels of particulate matter, the Minidors emit 0.16 gms of CO, 0.62 of HC and NOx, and 0.051 of PM-- even lower than the Euro II norms of 1.0 of CO, 0.7 of HC and NOx and 0.08 of PM, respectively, duly certified by the Automobile Research Association of India.

"If the operators use unsuitable fuel, why should the vehicle be held responsible?" asks Firodia. "The limitation of the operations are not transferable to the vehicle", says he. "What is needed is better regulatory controls." The vehicle is designed to carry six passengers. Ensure that it is complied," he says. "Overcrowding occurs because there are artificial constraints on the number of vehicles allowed on the roads, such as limited permits. If they are freely available, there will be enough vehicles on the road and no overcrowding."

As for the looks, he disagrees that it could be better, considering the fact that the Minidor is being offered as a low cost transport solution -- it costs Rs 1.5 lakhs a piece, ex-factory -- but it could be argued that better looks could help in softening prejudice.

The company presently makes 2000 Minidors wheelers a month, in addition to its other complement of LCVs such as the Tempo Excel, Tempo Traveller vans, Trax utility vehicles, and the Ox range of agricultural tractors. The company is shortly scheduled to open a new tractor plant at Akurdi, Pune.

And yes, it also has plans to introduce CNG options for every one of its product range.