HYDERABAD: The Telangana government on Tuesday began implementation of the Centre’s Vehicle Fleet Modernisation Policy by unveiling a vehicle scrapping policy for the state.
Giving details at the Secretariat on Tuesday, Transport Minister Ponnam Prabhakar said that the aim was to encourage a voluntary ecosystem for phasing out “end-of-life” vehicles in the interest of road safety and clean environment. Non-transport vehicles over 15 years old and transport vehicles over eight years old are classified as “end of life” vehicles.
As part of the policy, the state government will offer two types of incentives for voluntary scrapping of vehicles — Motor Vehicle Tax concession and one-time waiver of certain liabilities.
The tax concession can be availed on buying a new vehicle of the same category by submitting a certificate of deposit. The liabilities covered by the one-time waiver include penalty on quarterly tax and green tax collectable on the vehicles given for scrapping.
Govt vehicles to be scrapped too
Government-owned vehicles which have completed more than 15 years of age from the date of registration will also be scrapped.
Meanwhile, the state government has accorded administrative sanction for construction of 37 Automated Testing Stations (ATS) at a cost of Rs 8 crore each for a total amount of Rs 296 crore through Roads & Buildings department. The government also permitted construction of 15 ATS — one for headquarters of each erstwhile district and four additionwal ATS for Greater Hyderabad or HMDA Area in Phase-1.
Under Rule 175 of Central Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, the government has decided to stop the manual fitness testing at Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in districts where ATS are operational.
The government has nominated the transport commissioner as registering authority and special chief secretary to the government as Appellate Authority for Recognition, Regulation and Control of the ATS.
The state government has also decided to implement Sarathi and Vahan software in the state within 12 months.
“The vehicle scrapping policy is to promote safe scrapping of vehicles and enhance value discovery. It will ensure that the vehicles are scrapped in an environmentally friendly and safe manner and will also promote a scientific scrapping process,” the minister said.
He added: “Transparent operation of Automated Fitness Testing Stations forms the backbone for the smooth implementation of VVMP. It will create a robust ecosystem for safe roads and a well-structured scrapping policy thereby increasing the overall road safety of all users.”