Scheme to phase out BS-IV trucks, buses may get cabinet nod today

NEW DELHI: Union Cabinet is likely to approve an incentive scheme aimed at phasing out BS-IV trucks and buses in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and replacing them with BS-VI and electric vehicles over the next five years. The proposal, Naya Safar, is likely to be taken up on Wednesday so that the scheme can be rolled out before Oct-Nov this year when air pollution usually spikes in the capital and its surrounding areas, TOI has learnt.

People aware of the development said that the scheme piloted by housing and urban affairs ministry will include interest subsidies where existing owners take loans from banks to buy new vehicles and diesel coupons for replacing old diesel trucks and buses with less or no polluting vehicles. Member states in the NCR can also offer additional incentive to expedite this transition to reduce air pollution. The scheme will be applicable for all types of trucks registered in the NCR, and both govt and private owned buses.

BS-IV trucks and buses hit the market in 2017 and there is rare possibility of old BS-II or BS-III diesel trucks and buses operating in this region, officials said. As per govt data, around two lakh old trucks and 20,000 diesel buses registered in the region would be covered by the scheme.

Last December, the Commission for Air Quality Management issued a direction stating that all commercial goods vehicles registered outside Delhi and not compliant with BS-VI norms will be prohibited from entering the national capital from November 1, 2026. Older commercial diesel vehicles cause more air pollution.

Officials said once the new scheme is completely implemented, stricter enforcement will be possible. "Govt is taking multi-pronged measures to check air pollution - from modernising vehicle fleets to mitigating roadside dust besides checking open air burning. Efforts are on to onboard all stakeholders to improve the air quality in Delhi-NCR," said an official.

As per govt data, Delhi-NCR has around 3.3 crore registered vehicles and approximately 2.2 crore have valid registration and fitness. In a presentation to a parliamentary panel, govt had shared that around seven lakh medium and heavy commercial vehicles are registered in Delhi-NCR and little over three lakh of these have valid registration and fitness certificates. Nearly 40% of the vehicular pollution is attributed to medium and heavy commercial vehicles.