Kolkata, July 31 - With the Supreme Court refusing to stay a Calcutta High Court order banning commercial vehicles over 15 years old from Kolkata, transport operators Friday decided to keep all such vehicles off the roads from Saturday.

'We've decided not to run commercial vehicles more than 15 years old in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area from Aug 1,' said Swarnakamal Saha of the Kolkata Metropolitian Bus and Mini Bus Owners Association.

'We'll only withdraw 15-year old commercial vehicles but other vehicles will ply,' he said.

Meanwhile, transport department sources said the government was ready to ban vehicles over 15 years old from Aug 1.

'Transport department officials, police and motor vehicles department officers will carry out the operations all across Kolkata Metropolitan Area to ban these old vehicles.