Vehicle Scrapping Policy:
The Union Road and Transport Minister announced the Vehicle Scrapping Policy in the Lok Sabha.
- It was first announced in the Union Budget for 2021-22.
- The policy is estimated to cover 51 lakh Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) that are above 20 years of age and another 34 lakh LMVs above 15 years of age.
- India will also implement a Global Positioning System (GPS)-based toll collection system and do away with all toll booths within a year.
- Aim: Reducing the population of old and defective vehicles, bringing down vehicular air pollutants, improving road and vehicular safety.
Provisions:
Fitness Test:
- Old vehicles will have to pass a fitness test before re-registration and as per the policy government commercial vehicles more than 15 years old and private vehicles which are over 20 years old will be scrapped.
- Old vehicles will be tested at the Automated Fitness Center and the fitness test of the vehicles will be conducted according to international standards.
- Emission test, braking system, safety components will be tested and the vehicles which fail in the fitness test will be scraped.
- The Ministry has also issued rules for the registration procedures for scrapping facilities, their powers, and scrapping procedures to be followed.
Road Tax Rebate:
- The state governments may be advised to offer a road-tax rebate of up to 25% for personal vehicles and up to 15% for commercial vehicles to provide an incentive to owners of old vehicles to scrap old and unfit vehicles
Vehicle Discount:
- Vehicle manufacturers will also give a discount of 5% to people who will produce the ‘Scrapping Certificate’ and registration fees will be waived off on the purchase of a new vehicle.
Disincentive:
- As a disincentive, increased re-registration fees would be applicable for vehicles 15 years or older from the initial date of registration.
