Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on June 3 approved a landmark two-year scheme aimed at reducing air pollution in the Delhi–NCR region and promoting cleaner mobility.
With a total financial outlay of Rs 9,585 crore, including Rs 5,041 crore from the Central Government and an estimated Rs 1,601 crore in tax concessions from the participating states, the scheme seeks to incentivise owners of trucks and buses registered in the Delhi–NCR region that comply with BS-IV or earlier emission norms to replace them with BS-VI or stricter emission-compliant vehicles, or electric vehicles (EVs), according to an official statement.
The scheme will be funded through the National Capital Region Planning Board (NCRPB) under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA) and implemented by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MoPNG). It will be implemented in collaboration with the participating states and Union Territories of Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
The scheme will benefit approximately 2.07 lakh (1.91 lakh trucks and 16,329 buses) vehicle owners in Delhi-NCR (comprising Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh), the statement said.
For BS‑III or older vehicles, scrapping at Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities is mandatory, while BS‑IV vehicles may either be scrapped or sold outside NCR in non‑NCAP cities/towns. Owners must then purchase and register a BS‑VI or stricter norms compliant or electric vehicle within NCR. However, in Delhi, Light Goods Vehicles purchased under the scheme must be electric, while buses must be BS‑VI CNG or electric only.
