Ludhiana, June 15 (KNN) After an intense hue and cry with regard to the implementation of the recent regulation for  installation of the  standardized ISO 6742-2 reflectors on bicycles latest by 1st July,2016 there has been some relief granted to the MSME bicycle manufacturers after the Centre agreed to listen to their objections on Thursday.

The Supreme Court’s Committee on Road Safety has recently made it mandatory to install 10 reflectors qualifying ISO 6742-2 standards per bicycle.

It recommended installing four reflectors on pedals, two reflectors on front and rear wheel each, one reflector on lamp bracket and one on the rear mudguard latest by 1st of July 2016.

The United Cycle and Parts Manufacturers' Association (UCPMA) and Small Industrial Association of Ludhiana would be meeting the Union Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) to talk about their disagreements over the deadline given to them for installation of radiators in the bicycles.

UCPMA General secretary Rajiv Jain sounded hopeful of convincing the MSME Ministry to extend the  decided  deadline at least by 1 year which will provide them enough time to either import these from the Chinese and Taiwanese manufacturers or equip the local Ludhiana based manufacturers with the technology  required for producing them within Ludhiana.

Talking to KNN, Pawan Garg, President of Small Industries Association Ludhiana revealed the manifold increase in reflector prices lead by this installation along with the  “complete absence of the capacity , expertise and technology to produce these reflectors within India, given the highly conducive export  environment and technology in hands of China and various other tough competitors” .

The MSMEs said that this is a much needed extension of the proposed deadline to complete the installation process.

Similar were the views of Gurmeet Singh Kular , MD  Kular International, who while highlighting his expectations out of the scheduled meeting  expressed  the “dire need” of these reflectors from abroad who ask for at least 6 more months to process the orders already placed.

The bicycle manufacturer emphasized the fact that in spite of Ludhiana producing 92% bicycles, there are no incentives given to the industry.

Moreover, absence of EN Certified labs required to export the bicycle to Europe makes it all the more cumbersome to scale up the exports which he expects to be addressed  in tomorrow’s  meeting at Udyog Bhawan, New Delhi . (KNN/ GK)