All vehicles owned by the central and state governments in India including the buses owned by the transport corporations and public sector undertakings older than 15 years will be de-registered and scrapped starting April 1, 2023, a notice from the Road Transport and Highways ministry informed.

However, the rule will not be applicable for special purpose vehicles like armoured and other specialized vehicles used in defence of the nation and maintaining law and order and internal security, the notification mentioned.

It read, “Disposal of such vehicles shall, after the expiry of the fifteen years from the date of initial registration of the vehicle, (should) be ensured through the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility set up in accordance with the Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Rules, 2021.”

The policy will provide for fitness tests after 20 years for personal vehicles and 15 years for commercial vehicles which had been announced in the Union budget 2021-22.

The Centre had earlier said that under the new policy which has been effective since April 1, 2022, states and Union Territories will have to provide up to 25 per cent tax rebate on road tax for vehicles purchased after the scrapping of old vehicles.

Union minister Nitin Gadkari had said last year that he aimed to develop at least one automobile scrapping facility within 150 kilometers of each city centre. He also mentioned that India had the potential of becoming the vehicle scrapping hub of entire South Asian region.

It may be noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had in 2021 launched the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy and said that it will help to phase out the unfit and polluting vehicles and also help to promote a circular economy in the country.