In a bid to phase out old vehicles, the Chandigarh Administration has scrapped more than 1,262 vehicles within seven months of the implementation of the National Vehicle Scrappage policy.
The vehicles have been scrapped at the centre set up in Industrial Area, Phase 1, Chandigarh. As per the details given by the Chandigarh transport department, out of the total 1,262 vehicles that have been scrapped, 1,045 are government vehicles, including official cars of officers, two-wheelers, and 217 are private ones. It also includes government vehicles sent by neighbouring states of Haryana and Punjab.
According to the policy, commercial vehicles over 15 years old and passenger vehicles over 20 years old will have to be mandatorily scrapped if these do not pass the fitness and emission tests.
UT director (transport) Pradyuman Singh told The Indian Express that in the transport department, 95 old diesel buses of the Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) have been scrapped so far. And they all are being replaced. The Chandigarh transport department is taking 100 electric buses that will replace these old ones.
Bus takes 2 days to dismantle while car takes 2 to 3 hours
A senior official at the centre told The Indian Express that the scrapping and dismantling is a cumbersome process.
“A car can easily be dismantled in two to three hours while it takes nearly two days to dismantle a bus. And once a vehicle is scrapped, a certificate of deposit (COD) is issued and the vehicle de-registered,” he said, adding that the COD is valid across the country.
The official while explaining the procedure said that also, the vehicle owner can retain the registration number of the scrapped vehicle after visiting the e-vaahan portal.
The value of the scrap is calculated on the basis of the weight of the vehicle, he said. The owner is paid as per the current rate of the scrap, which is calculated on the basis of the steel recovered from the vehicle. Of the total weight of the vehicle, nearly 65 per cent is estimated to be steel and after removing 10 per cent as wastage, the amount is paid for the remaining weight, he added.
Apart from 15-year-old vehicles, they also get accidental ones. The vehicles can be brought for scrapping from any part of the country.
National Vehicle Scrappage Policy
To phase out unfit and polluting vehicles, the Chandigarh Administration implemented the National Vehicle Scrappage Policy from April 1. Under the policy, the administration will provide up to 25 per cent rebate on road tax on the registration of new vehicles that are purchased after scrapping old vehicles.
The policy has a provision of concession in the motor vehicle tax on the purchase of a new vehicle against the submission of the Certificate of Deposit (CoD), which will be issued by the registered vehicle scrapping facility (RVSF) to the owner when he/she gives the vehicle to it for scrapping. However, it is optional for the general public.
This was after a notification of the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways that all government vehicles, including buses of the CTU and vehicles attached with the Municipal Corporation, which have completed 15 years, have to be scrapped, said an official of the transport department.
At the same time, if public wants to scrap their vehicles after the completion of the life span of vehicles, benefit regarding tax exemption for new vehicles (in the same category) would be granted after submitting the CoD.
Concession in road tax
The concession in road tax up to 25 per cent is given in case of non-transport vehicles and up to 15 per cent in case of transport vehicles. However, the concession is be available for up to eight years in case of transport vehicles and for up to 15 years in case of non-transport vehicles.
The policy extends many benefits that can help reduce the price of new vehicles such as a manufacturer can give up to 4 per cent discount on a new vehicle, zero registration fee on the purchase of a new vehicle and the owners can receive scrap value equivalent to the weight of the steel in the vehicle.
Hina RohtakiHina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent with The Indian Express, Chand… read more