Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the much awaited Vehicle Scrappage Policy in India today at the Gujarat Investor Summit. The policy was first presented at the Union Budget 2021 by Finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Soon after, Union Minister for Road, Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari revealed the details of the policy at a Lok Sabha session and notified the new vehicle scrappage policy. While the new scrappage policy is voluntary, it would require mandatory fitness tests for vehicles after certain duration. We try to decode what exactly is the new scrappage policy and why industry is beaming with hope. Here’s our FAQ:
Q.What exactly is Vehicle Scrappage Policy?
Much like the western countries, the scrappage policy comes into effect when a vehicle’s registration is complete. In general, a passenger vehicle has a life of 15 years and a commercial vehicle has a life of 10 years, after which they become obsolete and also starts polluting the environment at a greater intensity than they would have been doing earlier. In western countries, these old vehicles are sent to scrapyards where they are dismantled and the steel used for making the body is crushed and recycled again. In India though, there was no such policy. Most of the vehicles either are on run currently polluting the environment or are lying at road sides.
Q.What does the policy aim to achieve?
As explained above, a vehicle should be scrapped at the end of its lifecycle so that they are stopped running on roads that will reduce air pollution. Also, getting off older vehicles will generate space for new vehicles, which will boost the sales in the otherwise battered and bruised Indian auto industry. Nitin Gadkari explained that once the registration of the vehicles are over, they will have to go mandatory fitness test. However, they can also avail scrapping option.
Q.Will all vehicles over and above time limit will be scrapped?
No, not all vehicles will be scrapped as this is a voluntary scheme and not a mandatory one. However, there’s a catch here. All vehicles over and above the time limit will have to undergo mandatory fitness test. If a vehicles fails fitness test, they will not get renewal certificate and won’t be able to run on road. However, if they pass fitness test, they will have to undergo fitness test after every 5 years again to show their road worthiness.
Q.What benefit will I get from scrapping my vehicle?
Nitin Gadkari has given following financial benefits one can get from the policy-
1) A scrap value of the ex-showroom price of vehicle ranging from 4-6% will be given to the owner if they choose to scrap the vehicle
2) A rebate of upto 25% will be given in Road Tax
3) Vehicle manufacturers will be advised to give 5% discount on new vehicles against a scrapping certificate
4) No registration fees for vehicles.
Q.What is a fitness test?
A fitness test, much like Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate test, determines the road worthiness of a vehicle and checks if the vehicle is harming the environment. But that’s one aspect of it. Various other tests like brake test, engine performance among others will be in place to check the quality of the vehicles. A fitness test, according to Nitin Gadkari, will be conducted at automated fitness centres.
These centres will be established under PPP model and it is estimated that each fitness test will set you back by at least Rs 30,000-40,000 and a green cess will also be levied while renewing the vehicle registration. Govt is hoping that all these additional costs will dissuade vehicle owners from retaining the vehicle.
Q.What happens if my vehicle doesn’t pass the fitness test?
Simply put, you won’t be given a renewed registration certificate which means your vehicle is not registered to run on the road. As per the MV Act, it’s illegal to drive a car without a RC. Reports suggests that you can undertake a fitness test only three times post which your vehicle will anyways won’t be road worthy.
Q.From when is the policy applicable?
While the policy has been launched by PM Modi today, it will take time to implement the policy on the ground level as scrapping centres are not ready yet. “From 2023 onwards, heavy commercial vehicles need to be scrapped if they do not conform to the fitness level prescribed under the rules. For personal vehicles, we plan to implement this from June 2024 onwards," said Giridhar Aramane, secretary in the road transport and highways ministry.
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