Centre May Approve Scheme to Phase Out BS-IV Trucks and Buses Today

The Union Cabinet is likely to consider an incentive scheme to phase out BS-IV trucks and buses operating in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) on Wednesday, replacing them with BS-VI-compliant and electric vehicles over the next five years, reported Times of India. The proposal, named ‘Naya Safar’, is likely to be taken up today, with the government aiming to roll out the scheme before the onset of the October–November period when air pollution levels typically rise in the capital and adjoining areas.

According to people familiar with the matter, as per the report, the scheme, developed by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, will include financial incentives such as interest subsidies for vehicle owners taking bank loans to purchase new vehicles. It will also provide diesel coupons to encourage the replacement of older diesel trucks and buses with less-polluting or zero-emission alternatives.

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States within the NCR may offer additional incentives to accelerate the transition, with the broader objective of reducing vehicular emissions across the region. The scheme is expected to cover all categories of trucks registered in the NCR, along with both government and privately operated buses.

The proposed scheme signals a coordinated push by the Centre and NCR states to accelerate fleet modernisation, while addressing one of the key sources of urban air pollution in the region.

Officials suggested that BS-IV trucks and buses entered the market in 2017, and there is minimal presence of older BS-II or BS-III diesel vehicles currently operating in the region. Government data suggests that the proposed programme could cover nearly two lakh ageing trucks and around 20,000 diesel buses registered across the NCR.

The policy move aligns with tightening regulatory measures aimed at curbing vehicular pollution. In December last year, the Commission for Air Quality Management directed that all commercial goods vehicles registered outside Delhi and not meeting BS-VI emission standards will be barred from entering the national capital from November 1, 2026.

Older diesel-powered commercial vehicles are considered a significant contributor to air pollution, particularly during the winter months when atmospheric conditions exacerbate pollutant concentration.