Vehicle scrappage incentive for NCR will accelerate adoption of cleaner vehicles, says auto industry

New Delhi, Jun 3 (PTI) The government's scheme for replacement of old trucks and buses in the Delhi-NCR area is a "positive step" that could accelerate the adoption of cleaner vehicles and help reduce pollution levels, the auto industry said on Wednesday. "This is a positive step towards accelerating the adoption of cleaner vehicles in Delhi NCR," Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM President Shailesh Chandra said. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday approved a scheme for replacement of old trucks and buses in the Delhi-NCR area. The scheme seeks to incentivise owners of trucks and buses registered in the Delhi-NCR that comply with BS-IV or earlier emission norms to replace them with BS-VI or stricter emission-compliant vehicles or electric vehicles (EVs). Under the scheme, the Centre will provide 5 per cent interest subvention on loans for five years, monthly fuel vouchers worth up to Rs 4,800 depending on vehicle category, and lump-sum benefits for EV purchases or certificate of deposit trading. The scheme will benefit approximately 2.07 lakh (1.91 lakh trucks and 16,329 buses) owners in Delhi and NCR states, such as Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh. Chandra said this will "provide an opportunity to owners of old Commercial Vehicles to leverage the programme, thereby contributing to reducing pollution load in NCR”. The package of incentives would provide owners of old commercial vehicles an opportunity to participate in the programme and transition to newer, cleaner vehicles. Heavy commercial vehicle makers said that the scheme is a positive step towards accelerating fleet modernisation besides helping in addressing the issues of environmental challenges. "We applaud the Government for approving the vehicle replacement scheme for Delhi-NCR. This is a significant step towards accelerating fleet modernisation while addressing one of the region's most pressing environmental challenges," said B. Srinivas, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer at VE Commercial Vehicles. As India progresses towards its Net Zero 2070 ambitions, such initiatives demonstrate how policy, industry and technology can come together to drive sustainable mobility, Srinivas said, adding, "we believe this will not only support cleaner transportation in Delhi-NCR but also serve as a model for fleet renewal and modernisation across the country." "The approval of this scheme is a positive step towards accelerating fleet modernisation and cleaner mobility in the Delhi-NCR region. Aligned with our commitment to make cargo and passenger transportation greener and more efficient, we are well positioned to support this transition through our expansive portfolio of BS-VI and zero-emission commercial vehicles," said Girish Wagh, MD & CEO, Tata Motors Ltd. "We look forward to studying the finer details of the notification to further align our efforts towards building a more sustainable and modern commercial vehicle ecosystem," he added. Addressing a press conference, I&B Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that it's a two-year scheme to replace older and BS IV trucks and buses with their BS VI-compliant variants. This is a constant effort by the government to reduce pollution in cities and villages, he said. The government said the scheme will be funded through the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG). It will be implemented in collaboration with the participating states of Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and the Union Territory of Delhi. PTI KRH IAS KRH MR