The transport department of the Delhi government has announced that owners found plying diesel vehicles above the age of 10 years and petrol vehicles above 15 years will now be liable to pay a fine of Rs 10.000, and also have their vehicles impounded or scrapped. This new announcement comes as a follow-up to the recently announced scrappage policy that incentivizes the scrapping of older vehicles, in an attempt to battle the national capital’s overwhelming pollution problems.

When the scrappage policy was first announced in 2018, the government only had a single scrapper on its books, to tackle Delhi’s 3.5 lakh estimated “end-of-life” vehicles. Since then while the number of authorized scrappers have grown to five, the total number of vehicles that have been scrapped remains at a measly 2,831 vehicles as of May 30, 2021. ie less than 1% of the vehicles estimated to be in the “end of life” age category.

While the law surrounding the plying of older vehicles according to the Motor Vehicles act suggest a fine of Rs 10,000 compoundable by Rs 5,000. Orders from the Supreme Court will now also allow the transport department to impound and or scrap such vehicles found plying on the road.

The Supreme Court also asked the transport department of the Government of Delhi to publish a list of all delisted vehicles, both petrol and diesel to further notify owners to bring their vehicles in from scrapping.

While this fresh announcement is expected to nudge the process into action, it hasn’t been smooth sailing until now. Even with 5 authorised scrappers in force, the estimated 3.5 lakh vehicles to be scrapped will take years, if not decades. During which the government will have to impound lots across the city to store these vehicles until they are scrapped in accordance with due process.

As of now, while there is no special drive planned to enforce the rulings, the government is hoping this repeated notification will further encourage owners to bring in their vehicles for scrapping.