The Union cabinet on Wednesday approved replacing old trucks and buses with Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) or electric vehicles in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) region through a ₹9,585-crore scheme as part of efforts to curb air pollution.
BS-VI, the most stringent government-mandated vehicular emission standard equivalent to Euro 6 norms, seeks to reduce air pollutants.
BS-IV vehicles can be sold and operated in cities that are not covered under the National Clean Air Programme. The NCR Planning Board under the housing and urban affairs ministry will fund the scheme. The road transport and highways, petroleum, and natural gas ministries will implement it.
Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh governments will waive registration fees and grant up to 100% motor vehicle tax concessions for new vehicles and 50% for used vehicles for 10 years. They will also waive pending liabilities on the old vehicles as part of the scheme.
Union minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said these measures will bring a significant change and create the possibility of replacing over 200,000 vehicles.
