Delhi gets rid of 2 lakh+ old diesel vehicles

The transport department had been issuing a series of public notices since last year to draw the attention of people to the legal position of the pliability of these vehicles

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Delhi’s transport department has de-registered around two lakh diesel-run cars in the capital that were more than 10-years-old from its database this month. The department has also started impounding diesel vehicles that are more than 15 years old and sending these to be scrapped.

“Diesel vehicles that are more than 10 years old can’t ply on Delhi’s roads and as per the guidelines for scrapping of motor vehicles notified by the department, they can’t even be parked in a public street,” a Delhi government official told ET and also said that the transport department had been issuing a series of public notices since last year to draw the attention of people to the legal position of the pliability of these vehicles.

According to the transport department, 365 “end-of-life” vehicles had been impounded till January 17, and close to 3,000 ‘overaged’ vehicles were impounded last year. “We intensified the drive against overage diesel vehicles since October last year when more than 300 such vehicles were impounded. We seized more than 850 old vehicles in November 2020, and nearly 1,400 vehicles in December last year,” an official was quotes saying.

“We had planned to intensify the drive further, but due to the sudden rise in Covid19 cases, the enforcement drive has lost some pace,” he said. “The vehicles that have been de-registered are not just impounded but immediately sent to scrappers authorised by Delhi government,” he said.

According to officials, the total number of overage vehicles in Delhi is close to 40 lakhs, including around 38 lakh petrol-run cars that are more than 15 years old

The government, however, has provided the option of converting such vehicles into electric ones. It is trying to empanel more manufacturers of pure electric kits by approved testing agencies. After retrofitting, more than 10-year-old diesel-run vehicles can be used longer as an electric vehicle. The department also provides no-objection certificates (NOC) to vehicles over 10 years old and have been de-registered to be registered again in other states.

The Supreme Court had prohibited the plying of 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in the national capital on October 29, 2018. A 2014 order of the National Green Tribunal does not permit vehicles older than 15 years to be parked in any public area.

According to officials, the total number of overage vehicles in Delhi is close to 40 lakhs, including around 38 lakh petrol-run cars that are more than 15 years old. The department, however, is taking action against old diesel-run vehicles first. Vehicle owners who want to get old vehicles scrapped can apply online or call an authorised scrapper, who pays the scrap value agreed upon and picks up the car from the owner’s residence.

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