The Union Cabinet is likely to approve an incentive scheme aimed at phasing out BS-IV trucks and buses in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) and replacing them with BS-VI and electric vehicles over the next five years. The proposal, named Naya Safar, is expected to be taken up on Wednesday so that the scheme can be rolled out before October or November this year, when air pollution typically spikes in the capital and its surrounding areas, according to sources.
Key Features of the Naya Safar Scheme
People aware of the development said that the scheme, piloted by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, will include interest subsidies for existing owners who take loans from banks to purchase new vehicles. Additionally, diesel coupons will be provided for replacing old diesel trucks and buses with less or non-polluting vehicles. Member states in the NCR can also offer additional incentives to expedite this transition and reduce air pollution. The scheme will be applicable to all types of trucks registered in the NCR, as well as both government-owned and privately owned buses.
Coverage and Impact
BS-IV trucks and buses were introduced in the market in 2017, and officials noted that there is little possibility of older BS-II or BS-III diesel trucks and buses still operating in the region. According to government data, approximately two lakh old trucks and 20,000 diesel buses registered in the NCR would be covered under the scheme. In December last year, the Commission for Air Quality Management issued a direction stating that all commercial goods vehicles registered outside Delhi and not compliant with BS-VI norms will be prohibited from entering the national capital from November 1, 2026. Older commercial diesel vehicles are known to cause more air pollution.
Enforcement and Multi-Pronged Measures
Officials said that once the new scheme is fully implemented, stricter enforcement will be possible. A government official stated, "The government is taking multi-pronged measures to check air pollution, from modernising vehicle fleets to mitigating roadside dust, besides checking open air burning. Efforts are on to onboard all stakeholders to improve air quality in Delhi-NCR."
Current Vehicle Statistics
As per government data, Delhi-NCR has around 3.3 crore registered vehicles, of which approximately 2.2 crore have valid registration and fitness certificates. In a presentation to a parliamentary panel, the government shared that around seven lakh medium and heavy commercial vehicles are registered in Delhi-NCR, and a little over three lakh of these have valid registration and fitness certificates. Nearly 40% of vehicular pollution is attributed to medium and heavy commercial vehicles, highlighting the importance of the transition to cleaner vehicles.
