Government Approves AIS 228 Standards for Emission Control Retrofitting

At the 66th SIAM annual convention, officials announced the approval of new technical standards, designated as AIS 228, for retrofitting Rear Emission Control Devices (RECD) onto pre-BS6 heavy commercial vehicles. The approval comes following successful trial completions and aims to address tailpipe emissions from older commercial vehicle fleets across India.

The retrofitting of RECDs under the AIS 228 framework enables pre-BS6 heavy vehicles to achieve up to a claimed 90% reduction in particulate matter (PM) emissions and up to a 60% reduction in nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.

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The trial testing confirmed that equipping BS4 vehicles with this retrofitted device reduces their emissions to levels comparable with BS6 vehicle standards.

The estimated cost for retrofitting the Rear Emission Control Device ranges between ₹4,000 and ₹5,000 per unit. Officials noted that while providing a cost-effective alternative for vehicle operators to lower emissions, the innovation offers a practical solution to enhance air quality compliance across existing heavy transport fleets.