BS-I To BS-III trucks, buses in NCR set for scrapping push

SPR dust pollution Gurgaon: The city's transport and logistics industry is at the centre of Haryana 's push to take ageing commercial vehicles off NCR roads, with 24,032 old trucks and buses in the city identified for phase-out — the highest number among Haryana's NCR districts, accounting for nearly one-fourth of the 96,441 vehicles targeted statewide under Parivartan scheme. The state list comprises 81,079 trucks and 15,362 buses. Faridabad has the second-highest count, with 18,141 vehicles. The exercise is now moving beyond an incentive-driven programme to enforcement, with Haryana set to issue notices to owners and enforce the prescribed phase-out process. 'BS-I, BS-II and BS-III trucks and buses will have to be scrapped at registered vehicle-scrapping facilities, while eligible BS-IV vehicles can either be scrapped or sold outside NCR in a permitted non-NCAP area,' said an official of the transport department. Replacement vehicles must meet BS-VI or stricter emission norms, or be electric. Owners who don't comply could face enforcement action, including impounding of vehicles and their transfer to authorised scrapping facilities. TOI had reported in May that transporters across NCR called a three-day chakka jam over a sharp increase in the environmental compensation charge (ECC), proposed restrictions on BS-IV vehicles, and the imposition of green levies even on BS-VI fleets. 'The issue is not whether we want cleaner vehicles. The question is whether small operators can afford to replace vehicles for which they are still paying EMIs,' Gurgaon transport welfare association general secretary Pradeep Modi told TOI. The new phase-out drive is therefore likely to reopen the industry's concerns over the cost of fleet replacement, particularly for small operators still servicing loans on existing vehicles. The govt argues that replacing old commercial vehicles delivers a disproportionately large pollution benefit. Trucks and buses make up only about 3% of Delhi-NCR's vehicle fleet but account for around 36% of the region's PM2.5 emissions, according to data cited by the road transport ministry. The national Parivartan programme aims to replace more than two lakh BS-IV and older trucks and buses registered in Delhi and NCR districts of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan with BS-VI or stricter norm-compliant vehicles and EVs. 'Buyers of eligible new vehicles get a 100% motor vehicle tax waiver for 10 years, exemption from registration fees, 5% interest subvention on eligible loans for five years and at least an 8% discount from participating vehicle manufacturers,' said the officer. Buyers of BS-VI diesel or CNG vehicles can additionally get monthly fuel vouchers of Rs 1,200 to Rs 4,800 for five years, while those opting for electric vehicles can receive a one-time incentive of Rs 64,000 to Rs 2.5 lakh. Haryana's own package adds a 50% motor vehicle tax concession on eligible used replacement vehicles, besides waiver of registration fees and other specified benefits. 'The state has established 26 registered vehicle-scrapping facilities to support the exercise,' said the officer. Despite the incentives, response from vehicle owners suggests they may not be enough to trigger mass fleet replacement. A little over 1,300 truck and bus owners had registered under Parivartan by Aug 27, about six weeks after the scheme opened on July 14. The programme covers 37 NCR districts — 14 in Haryana, eight in Uttar Pradesh, two in Rajasthan and Delhi's 13 districts — and is expected to cover about 1.9 lakh trucks and 16,329 buses. At the Haryana level specifically, the state had reported 314 vehicles registered on the portal by Aug 21, while a central update a week later put Haryana registrations at around 450. The rising count reflects ongoing registrations, but remains small against the state's 96,441-vehicle target. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Gurgaon | Silver Rate in Gurgaon | Bank Holidays in Gurgaon | Public Holidays in Gurgaon | Gurgaon AQI | Weather in Gurgaon | Petrol Price in Gurgaon | Diesel Price in Gurgaon | CNG Price in Gurgaon | LPG Price in Gurgaon Stay updated with the latest Gurgaon news. Download the TOI App.