Shri Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport & Highways on 18th March, 2021 has announced Vehicle Scrapping Policy in the Lok Sabha. In the interest of a clean environment and rider and pedestrian safety a Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program (VVMP) or “Vehicle Scrapping Policy” has been introduced aimed to create an Eco-System for phasing out of Unfit and Polluting Vehicles.
The objectives of the policy are to reduce population of old and defective vehicles, achieve reduction in vehicular air pollutants to fulfil India’s climate commitments, improve road and vehicular safety, achieve better fuel efficiency, formalize the currently informal vehicle scrapping industry and boost availability of low-cost raw materials for automotive, steel and electronics industry. The criteria for a vehicle to be scrapped is primarily based on the fitness of vehicles through Automated Fitness Centres in case of commercial vehicles and Non-Renewal of Registration in case of private vehicles. A Vehicle failing the fitness test or failing to get a renewal of its registration certificate may be declared as End of Life Vehicle. Criteria to determine vehicle fitness will be primarily emission tests, braking, safety equipment, among many other tests which are as per the Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989.
The Policy proposes the following—
1. It is proposed that commercial vehicles be de-registered after 15 years in case of failure to get the fitness certificate. As a disincentive measure, increased fees for fitness certificate and fitness test may be applicable for commercial vehicles 15 year onwards from the date of initial registration.
2. It is proposed that Private Vehicles be de-registered after 20 years if found unfit or in case of a failure to renew registration certificate. As a disincentive measure, increased re-registration fees will be applicable for private vehicles 15 year onwards from the date of initial registration.
3. It is being proposed that all vehicles of the Central Government, State Government, Municipal Corporation, Panchayats, State Transport Undertakings, Public Sector Undertakings and autonomous bodies with the Union and State Governments may be de-registered and scrapped after 15 years from the date of registration.
4. The scheme shall provide strong incentives to owners of old vehicles to scrap old and unfit vehicles through registered scrapping centres, which shall provide the owners with a scrapping certificate. Some of these incentives include:
a. Scrap Value for the old vehicle given by the scrapping centre, which is approximately 4-6% of ex-showroom price of a new vehicle.
b. 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
c. The vehicle manufacturers are also advised for providing a discount of 5% on purchase of new vehicle against the scrapping certificate.
d. In addition, the registration fees may also be waived for purchase of new vehicle against the scrapping certificate.
The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (“MoRTH”) will promote setting up of Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) across India and will encourage public and private participation for opening up of such centres.
Further, the tentative timeline for application of Proposed Scrapping Policy is as follows:
1. Rules for Fitness Tests and Scrapping Centres: 01st October 2021;
2. Scrapping of Government and PSU vehicles above 15 years of age: 01st April 2022;
3. Mandatory Fitness Testing for Heavy Commercial Vehicles: 01st April 2023;
4. Mandatory Fitness-Testing (Phased manner for other categories): 01st June 2024.
Source : Ministry of Road Transport and Highways
