Government revises vehicle scrapping standards

NEW DELHI: As the debate continues over whether vehicles older than 15 years should be compulsorily scrapped, the government on Tuesday said it is considering stricter pollution testing norms and “trustworthy” fitness checks to decide on phasing out old vehicles, instead of just linking it to their age.
Currently, the mandatory scrapping of vehicles older than 15 years is only applicable in Delhi-NCR. Following a 2018 Supreme Court ruling, petrol vehicles older than 15 years and those with diesel engines older than 10 years are not allowed to ply on Delhi-NCR roads, with the court ordering them to be taken off the roads to keep out older, polluting vehicles. Such vehicles are automatically delisted from the Vahan database. But the road transport and highways secretary Anurag Jain said the standards are being revised.
“People tell us that if they have maintained their vehicle well, why should they be forced to scrap it? We are exploring the possibility of imposing a scrappage requirement with an upper limit based on the pollution of the vehicle, say before BS-I or before BS-II, instead of the 15-year requirement,” he said at an event organised by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (Siam). Some car owners have complained about the move, saying that they have maintained their vehicles well and it is unfair to scrap them just because of the age criteria.

Jain said a “trustworthy” vehicle fitness check can clearly determine whether the vehicle is fit to ply on the road. “We will have to ensure that the pollution test becomes something reliable. I would request all of you to help us in designing the pollution control programme,” he added. Jain Jain said while addressing auto industry representatives. Later, Jain told TOI that options were being explored for vehicles registered outside NCR.
Around the world, there are strict certifications, especially for tyres, and vehicles must undergo periodic compliance checks to be deemed roadworthy. In India, however, courts have taken a different approach and have issued bans due to the lack of rigour in the enforcement of rules by government agencies.
The Centre had sought a review of the norms, but the Supreme Court rejected its request. Another appeal was filed in the Supreme Court, which is yet to be heard.