Maharashtra Mandates Disposal of 15 Years Old Govt Vehicles; 13,000 To Be Scrapped by 2025

The Maharashtra government has announced plans to scrap 13,000 government vehicles that are over 15 years old. This is part of a nationwide policy to dispose of outdated vehicles and reduce pollution. Both government-owned and privately owned vehicles are included in this vehicle scrapping initiative. 

It was confirmed in a Government Resolution (GR) released on Thursday, November 14, that vehicles over 15 years old or the ones that are unusable and polluting must be scrapped. These cars will only be allowed to be destroyed through registered vehicle scrapping facilities by the deadline of January 31, 2025. 

The GR reported that Maharashtra has 13,000 such vehicles across state departments, civic organizations, semi-government agencies, and public transportation services. The Motor Vehicle Development department’s data led to this estimate. 

Private vehicle owners are also required to follow these scrapping rules. However, individuals who wish to continue driving older vehicles may do so if they fulfill these three requirements:

1. They must re-register their vehicle with the RTO, at a cost of INR 5,500. 

2. They must make necessary repairs and pay a green tax, which varies by vehicle type. 

3. They need to secure an annual fitness certificate from an automotive fitness center, with fees ranging from INR 1,600 to INR 1,800.

Furthermore, the state has six registered vehicle scrapping facilities. These include three in Pune, two in Nagpur, and one in Jalna. The Maharashtra government is allowing departments to either purchase or lease new vehicles to replace those that are being scrapped. This is permitted as long as they follow state guidelines.

In 2021, the central government issued detailed guidelines for vehicle scrapping facilities. These were published as the “Operational Guidelines for setting up of Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility” along with the Motor Vehicles (Registration and Functions of Vehicle Scrapping Facility) Rules, 2021.

Earlier on August 9, the union government issued directives to the state, emphasizing the need for strict compliance with the scrapping initiative. These instructions were followed by a government order on November 14.