NEW DELHI: The transport department is expected to put in place a policy for people seeking to get their
overaged vehicles
— impounded for plying or being parked in public spaces — released.
“As per the court’s direction, a policy is being formed. It is in its last leg and will be finalised soon. We are contemplating a fine of Rs 5,000 in the case of motorbikes and two-wheelers and Rs 10,000 for people looking to get their four-wheelers released,” said Delhi transport minister Kailash Gahlot.
Currently, there are no provisions under which impounded vehicles can be released back to owners.
They are instead sent for scrapping.
A window of six to 12 months will also be given to people to shift their vehicles from Delhi if they do not want to get them scrapped, said Gahlot. “For vintage cars, the owners would have to inform the transport department. They can then take their cars out for repairs in a hired lorry or carriage,” he added.
A senior official said under the new policy, which would be ready soon, owners would have to give an undertaking to get their vehicles released saying they would not drive it within city limits.
Delhi has deregistered more than 55 lakh vehicles, many of them overaged but still running on roads and causing pollution. The National Green Tribunal had banned all diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old from plying on the city’s roads, a decision that was upheld by the Supreme Court.
On March 29, the transport department launched an extensive drive to impound vehicles that had surpassed their life and send them for scrapping. So far, over 15,000 two-wheelers and four-wheelers have been impounded.
While launching the drive, the department had stated that it was meant to contain pollution in the city and nudge people to scrap their overaged vehicles instead of abandoning them on the road. The owners were paid compensation according to rates decided by the Union steel ministry.
However, in May, Gahlot directed the department to stop towing away parked vehicles, after which the drive was paused. But on May 29, the drive was resumed after the Commission for Air Quality Management wrote to the department to initiate action against all vehicles plying or parked in public areas.
In August, Gahlot wrote to the transport department to halt the drive, stating that the exercise was “invasive” and “did not have government approval”. In an order issued to the commissioner (transport), he said: “It is unfortunate that the department continues its drive of seizing and thereafter sending vehicles for scrapping which are parked on the road.”
The matter went to court, after which Delhi HC ordered the release of ‘end-of-life’ vehicles seized by authorities for scrapping, but with riders. The owners had to give an undertaking to permanently keep the vehicles in a private space or shift them out of Delhi-NCR and not run them within city limits.
English (US) ·