The Indian government has rolled out a comprehensive new policy aimed at curbing pollution and promoting the adoption of eco-friendly vehicles. The Vehicle Scrappage Policy, which comes with a slew of incentives and regulations, targets the removal of old and polluting vehicles from the roads while incentivizing the purchase of new ones.
Key Policy Highlights:
Incentives for Owners: Under the new policy, owners of old vehicles stand to benefit significantly. Personal vehicle owners can avail themselves of up to a 25% discount on the purchase price or road tax upon scrapping their old vehicles. For commercial vehicles, the discount stands at 15%.
Participation Across States: Several states across India, including Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Punjab, and Kerala, have embraced the incentives provided by the policy. This concerted effort aims to phase out old vehicles, thereby reducing pollution and promoting cleaner transportation options.
Fitness Testing and Regulations: To ensure road safety and environmental compliance, the policy mandates fitness and emission tests for commercial vehicles older than 15 years and passenger vehicles older than 20 years. Automated testing stations and scrapping facilities will be gradually introduced to streamline the process.
Vehicle Lifespan Regulations: The policy sets specific lifespan limits for different vehicle categories. Motorcycles have a lifespan of seven years or 120,000 km, while Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) are restricted to six and a half years or 150,000 km. Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs) are allowed a maximum lifespan of 10 years or 400,000 km. Vehicles beyond these limits must be scrapped.
Current Progress: Since its inception in 2021, the policy has led to the voluntary scrappage of around 70,000 old vehicles, including many owned by government agencies. In Delhi, stringent regulations automatically deregister and scrap vehicles older than 10 years (diesel) and 15 years (petrol), furthering the policy’s impact.
State-Specific Incentives: Various states have introduced additional incentives to encourage participation in the scrappage program:
- Karnataka offers fixed discounts on road tax based on vehicle price, with vehicles costing over Rs. 20 lakh receiving Rs. 50,000 off.
- Uttarakhand provides a 25% concession or Rs. 50,000 (whichever is lower) on private vehicles.
- Puducherry offers a 25% concession or Rs. 11,000 (whichever is lower).
- Haryana provides a 10% discount or 50% of the scrap value for private vehicles.
In Conclusion: The Vehicle Scrappage Policy aims to facilitate the transition to newer, more environmentally friendly vehicles while providing significant financial incentives to vehicle owners. By encouraging the scrappage of old vehicles and promoting the adoption of cleaner transportation options, the policy aims to significantly reduce pollution and improve air quality across the country.
