Centre Clears Scheme To Phase Out Ageing Trucks and Buses in Delhi-NCR

The Centre on Wednesday approved a ₹9,585 crore scheme aimed at phasing out ageing trucks and buses in the Delhi-NCR region, as part of efforts to address worsening air quality. The initiative focuses on replacing BS-IV and older commercial vehicles with cleaner BS-VI-compliant or electric alternatives.

Under the programme, owners of older trucks and buses registered in Delhi-NCR will be eligible for financial support if they scrap their vehicles at authorised facilities or sell them outside the region. To avail the benefits, these vehicles must be replaced with new or used BS-VI or electric models registered within the NCR.

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The scheme includes a range of incentives designed to ease the transition. These include a 5 per cent interest subvention on vehicle loans, monthly fuel vouchers for up to five years provided through oil marketing companies, and ex-showroom discounts offered by manufacturers.

For used BS-VI vehicles purchased under the scheme, a 50 per cent concession on motor vehicle tax will be applicable. These benefits will remain in force for a period of 10 years.

Implementation will be coordinated by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the National Capital Region Planning Board, and the state governments of Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.

According to Information and Broadcasting Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, the scheme is expected to cover more than 1.9 lakh trucks and around 16,000 buses currently operating under BS-IV and older emission standards in the region.

Older diesel-powered commercial vehicles remain a major contributor to pollution in Delhi-NCR. Government data indicates that vehicles compliant with BS-I to BS-IV norms emit significantly higher levels of pollutants, including around 67 per cent more carbon monoxide and 97 per cent more particulate matter, compared to BS-VI vehicles.

The move is part of a broader push to curb vehicular emissions in one of the country’s most polluted regions, particularly during the winter months when air quality tends to deteriorate sharply.

Alongside emissions reduction, the scheme is also expected to support the adoption of cleaner mobility solutions, including electric trucks and buses, while enabling a gradual modernisation of the commercial vehicle fleet in the NCR.