A single pre-BS heavy vehicle emits as much pollution as 14 BS-VI-compliant trucks. Yet thousands of them are still running on NCR roads.
The Union Cabinet approved a Rs 9,585 crore scheme on June 3 to take around 2.07 lakh such vehicles off NCR roads. At NCR Planning Board’s 42nd meeting on Tuesday, participating states formally agreed to notify the conversion plan for implementation.
Under the scheme, BS-I, II, and III vehicles will be scrapped mandatorily. BS-IV vehicles must be scrapped or sold outside the NCR. All replacements must meet BS-VI or electric vehicle standards. The two-year scheme covers trucks and buses registered in Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
According to a 2018 joint report by Automotive Research Association of India and TERI, the transport sector contributes 14% of PM2.5, 40% of carbon monoxide, and 63% of nitrogen oxide emissions in the NCR. Within that, trucks and buses account for 36% of PM2.5 emissions despite making up only 3% of the total fleet. Even a BS-IV vehicle emits 2.7 times more pollutants than a BS-VI vehicle.
The scheme will be funded through NCRPB under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs and implemented jointly by the ministries of Road Transport and Petroleum and Natural Gas. It incentivises owners of BS-IV and older trucks and buses registered in Delhi-NCR to replace them with BS-VI or electric vehicles.
At Tuesday’s NCRPB meeting chaired by Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, all participating states reached consensus on the vehicle phase-out framework. In Delhi, light goods vehicles purchased under the scheme must be electric, while buses must be BS-VI CNG or electric only. Government vehicles are excluded from the scheme.
The scheme is expected to benefit about 2.07 lakh vehicle owners — 1.91 lakh truck owners and 16,329 bus operators. The Central Government will provide a 5% interest subvention on loans for five years and monthly fuel vouchers worth up to Rs 4,800, depending on vehicle category. State governments will waive registration fees and grant up to 100% motor vehicle tax concessions on new vehicles for 10 years. They will also waive pending liabilities on old vehicles participating in the scheme. Auto manufacturers will offer 8% discounts on ex-showroom prices.
Implementation will be fully digital through an integrated portal for real-time eligibility checks, automated interest subvention claims, and monthly fuel voucher credits. An Empowered Committee chaired by the Cabinet Secretary will monitor the scheme.
