In a proactive move to combat rising pollution levels, the Delhi government has launched a new initiative aimed at encouraging the scrapping of old vehicles. Under this initiative, owners of 15-year-old petrol cars and 10-year-old diesel cars are eligible for a road tax subsidy of up to Rs 50,000 when purchasing new vehicles with improved emission standards.
Background and Current Situation
Delhi, like many other metropolitan areas, has been grappling with the environmental impact of older vehicles still in operation. Previous attempts to address this issue faced obstacles, including a halt in the confiscation of vehicles by the Delhi High Court.
To rectify this and combat pollution effectively, the government has formulated a policy prohibiting the operation of petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years in the National Capital Region. Approximately 55 lakh vehicle registrations have been canceled as part of this initiative, but only 1.4 lakh vehicles have been scrapped thus far.
How to Benefit from the Initiative
To take advantage of the subsidy, individuals must scrap their old vehicles and obtain a “deposit certificate.” This certificate, to be attached to the registration papers when purchasing a new vehicle, ensures the eligibility for road tax exemption and remains valid for a specified period.
The government is actively promoting the sale of old vehicles and the purchase of new ones to contribute to the reduction of air pollution. Different subsidy slabs for commercial and private vehicles are under consideration, pending approval by the Finance Department.
