Completion of formalities would take two to three days after submitting the application as the transport department would scrutinise the papers, officials said and hoped that MUL would get the permission before the June one deadline of conforming to Euro-I emission norms.

Maruti would be permitted to register its vehicles in the Delhi region only after getting an application along with a self-certification document supporting its claim of Euro-I norms conformity, the special transport commissioner of the state government MP Tyagi said.

The transport department has already permitted ten auto companies including Daewoo, Hyundai, Honda, Telco, Ford and Mercedes Benz to register their Euro-I/Euro-II compliant vehicles in the NCR manufactured by ten auto companies

Though MUL plans todeliver Euro-I compliant vehicles in the NCR from June one, the annual one week shut down of the plant scheduled from May 30 could delay its programme, officials indicated.

Market leader Maruti which has over 80 per cent market share in the Indian car market and sells over 7,000 vehicles in the NCR every month, has tied up with Denso company of Japan to manufacture multi-point-fuel-injection system (MPFI), an essential part to meet Euro-II standards.

As start of production of MPFI kits would take some time, MUL has decided to produce Euro-I compliant vehicles for the NCR region from June one this year.

The company has already invested Rs 600 crore for meeting Euro-II norms by April one, 2000. The MUL officials said that to meet Euro-I emission standards, existing catalytic convertors of Maruti vehicles would need slight modifications which would be completed before the deadline.

Esteem and Zen diesel car models of maruti were already Euro-I compliant, they said adding other models namely Maruti-800,Zen petrol, Omni van and Gypsy were being modified to meet the stringent Euro-I emission norms.

Meanwhile, the transport department has identified 1013 prospective car owners (921 petrol and 92 diesel) whose vehicles would be registered in Delhi.

The Supreme Court had allowed registration of 1500 (250 diesel and 1250 petrol) private non-commercial vehicles in NCR till May 31, 1999, even if they did not conform to Euro-I norms.