The Union Cabinet, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has given the green light to a significant two-year plan to combat air pollution in the Delhi-NCR region and encourage cleaner transportation. With a total budget of Rs 9,585 crore, the scheme aims to incentivize owners of trucks and buses in Delhi-NCR complying with BS-IV or older emission norms to switch to BS-VI or more stringent emission-compliant vehicles, including electric ones. The initiative, funded through the National Capital Region Planning Board, will involve collaboration with Delhi, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh.
Approximately 2.07 lakh vehicle owners in Delhi-NCR, comprising trucks and buses, are set to benefit from this scheme. For vehicles older than BS-III, scrapping at Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities is mandatory, while BS-IV vehicles can either be scrapped or sold outside NCR. Replacement vehicles must adhere to BS-VI or stricter norms within NCR, with specific requirements for Light Goods Vehicles and buses in Delhi. The scheme offers various incentives such as interest subvention on loans, monthly fuel vouchers, and discounts from participating auto OEMs.
The implementation of the scheme will be digitized through an integrated portal to facilitate eligibility checks, interest subvention claims, fuel voucher credits, and pollution reduction monitoring in real-time. By promoting the adoption of cleaner transport technologies, the initiative aims to significantly curb vehicular emissions and enhance air quality in the Delhi-NCR region, addressing the persistent issue of air pollution, especially during winter months.
