The Karnataka government has given the green light to a major initiative aimed at phasing out aging vehicles from its official fleet. The state will scrap a total of 17,059 government vehicles that are more than 15 years old. The announcement was made by Transport Minister Ramalinga Reddy in the Legislative Council in Belagavi on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
Massive Scrapping Drive for Government Fleet
Responding to a query from Congress MLC Govinda Raju, Minister Reddy provided detailed figures on the ambitious scrapping plan. He revealed that as of December 4, 2025, the registration of 18,552 government vehicles (excluding state transport corporation buses) over 15 years old had been cancelled by the Central Government on the Vahan portal. Out of this total, only 1,493 vehicles have been processed at registered vehicle scrapping facilities so far, leaving a substantial 17,059 vehicles still awaiting scrapping.
The minister further clarified the policy difference between private and government vehicles. He noted that while the Centre made scrapping mandatory for vehicles older than 15 years, it allowed a relaxation for private owners. "Private vehicles can run for five more years after obtaining fitness certificates. However, the option was not provided for government vehicles," Reddy explained.
Focus on Buses and Private Vehicles
The scrapping policy extends significantly to the public transport sector. Reddy stated that since April 2023, state transport corporations have already scrapped 3,212 old buses. Furthermore, an additional 579 buses have been identified and are next in line to be decommissioned and scrapped.
When questioned by MLC Govinda Raju about the fate of private buses and other personal vehicles that have crossed the 15-year mark, the minister indicated that the matter requires further deliberation. "I will discuss the matter with the home minister and transport department officials regarding what action to take against private vehicles older than 15 years," Reddy said, highlighting that a clear policy for the private sector is still under consideration.
Electric Buses Pose New Challenges
During the session, the transport minister also addressed significant operational issues plaguing the state's fleet of electric buses. Responding to Congress MLC Ivan D'Souza, Reddy expressed concern over the frequent breakdowns of e-buses supplied by the Central Government under the Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model.
He revealed startling statistics, noting that the state has 1,957 electric buses, which have collectively reported over 14,000 breakdowns. "Most of the breakdowns were related to battery performance," Reddy stated, adding that the unreliable performance has forced transport corporations to reduce scheduled trips, impacting public service.
Comparing their performance to traditional diesel buses, the minister said the e-buses have been disappointing. He has formally escalated the issue, having written to Union Minister for Heavy Industries, H D Kumaraswamy, to seek solutions. "While electric buses are eco-friendly, they have come with their own problems," Reddy concluded, underscoring the practical challenges in the state's green transition.
