We have also decided to run commercial vehicles through government franchise if the operators decide to go on strike,' said Sumantra Chowdhury, principal secretary of the state transport department.

The Calcutta High Court in July 2008 ordered a ban on commercial vehicles registered before Jan 1, 1993 from Kolkata and its outskirts. It said the order should be implemented by Dec 31, 2008 in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, which includes parts of North and South 24-Parganas, Howrah and Hooghly districts.

Later, the date for imposing the ban was put off till July 31, 2009, following a government plea. The government decided to phase out old vehicles from July 25 to implement the court order.