NEW DELHI: The government has approved scrapping of vehicles owned by the Central government and the Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs), which have attained 15 years. The policy will come to effect from April next year.
The Union road transport minister Nitin Gadkari has approved the policy, which is aimed at kick starting the phasing out of old polluting vehicles. The government is also likely to announce the policy for voluntary scrapping of old vehicles owned by individuals and private entities.
TOI on January 15 had first reported about the plan soon after Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a review meeting of the proposed vehicle scrapping policy with different ministries.
Last week, the transport ministry had told all the state transport ministers that the voluntary scrapping policy would be based on the principle of stringent fitness and emission regime. As per the proposal, there will be several disincentives including higher charges for obtaining the fitness certificate and for renewal of registration.
The PM has directed the ministries to step up the setting up of automated fitness testing and vehicle scrapping centres to accelerate the implementation of the policy. Sources said Modi has asked the transport ministry to compress the timeline for full implementation of the scheme instead of stretching it up to 2025.