CHANDIGARH, Aug. 26 — Chandigarh has outpaced several larger states in scrapping unfit vehicles, with 8,646 units taken off the roads in the past two-and-a-half years under the Central Government’s Voluntary Vehicle Fleet Modernisation Programme (VVMP).
According to data presented by Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari in the Lok Sabha, the city has scrapped more vehicles than Madhya Pradesh (6,892), Odisha (2,737) and Punjab (4,553), despite its smaller geographical size. The National Vehicle Scrappage Policy, implemented on April 1, 2023, mandates the phasing out of commercial vehicles older than 15 years and passenger vehicles over 20 years if they fail fitness and emission tests.
Experts, however, pointed out that Chandigarh’s high numbers may also be due to vehicles from neighbouring states being scrapped at the city’s Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility in Industrial Area, Phase I.
Nationally, Uttar Pradesh is leading with 1,21,206 vehicles scrapped so far, followed by Haryana (38,993), Maharashtra (19,310), Gujarat (15,448) and Rajasthan (15,420).
The policy offers financial incentives for compliance. Owners scrapping old non-transport vehicles are entitled to up to 25 per cent rebate on road tax when registering a new vehicle, while transport vehicle owners get a 15 per cent rebate. Once a vehicle is dismantled, it is deregistered and a Certificate of Deposit (COD) is issued, which is valid nationwide. Vehicle owners can also retain the old registration number through the e-vahan portal.
Scrap value is determined by the vehicle’s weight and the prevailing steel rate, ensuring direct payment to the owner. Chandigarh Administration has also directed government departments to purchase new vehicles only upon submission of a scrapping certificate for the old ones.
Officials said the policy is expected to improve road safety, reduce emissions and stimulate the automobile sector through increased demand for new vehicles.
