Context: Announcing the “Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernisation Programme”, Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari said that commercial vehicles over 15 years old and personal vehicles over 20 years old will be marked for scrapping if they fail to pass the test. They will be seized and destroyed.

Details:

• India will put in place a new “ecosystem” of mandatory fitness testing of vehicles, and ensure that those that fail are de-registered.
• The government will approach carmakers to consider a five per cent discount on purchase of new vehicles for those who give up their old vehicles for scrap — and push for relief in GST.
• The emphasis of the policy is on de-registration of unfit vehicles by terming them “end of life”.
• The new regulatory regime will start mandatory testing of heavy commercial vehicles from April 2023 and for other categories, in a phased manner, from June 2024.
• Vintage cars will be exempted from this policy.
• The ecosystem is expected to attract additional investments of around Rs 10,000 crore and 35,000 job opportunities.
• According to the new policy, the Government will encourage the setting up of integrated scrapping facilities — Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) — across India.
• Locations identified include Alang in Gujarat, where a highly specialised scrapping centre is planned.

https://indianexpress.com/article/india/new-scrapping-policy-vehicles-nitin-gadkari-7234955/

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