Vehicle Scrappage Policy passed in December 2024 but...
No vehicle fitness testing facility yet
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, April 12 2025: Even as the Manipur Vehicle Scrappage Policy, 2024 has been in effect since February 13, 2025, the glaring absence of dedicated scrapping and vehicle fitness testing facilities in the State has cast a shadow over its effectiveness.

Approved by the State Cabinet on December 28, 2024, the Manipur Vehicle Scrappage Policy, 2024 came into effect on February 13, 2025 following a Gazette notification.

However, essential facilities like a vehicle scrapping center and an automated testing station are yet to be established in the State.

Vehicle Scrappage Policy passed in December 2024 but..

The policy focuses on scrapping vehicles over 15 years old, including those belonging to Public Sector Undertakings, Government agencies, Autonomous Councils and vehicles damaged in fires, riots, accidents and natural calamities.

The policy doesn't have any provisions for scrapping private vehicles as of now.

Even though the existing system in Manipur allows vehicles over 15 years to operate for 5 more years if deemed fit by paying green tax, the State still doesn't have a single automated testing center to assess vehicle fitness.

Vehicle fitness can only be accurately verified through machine-based tests as manual tests are unreliable.

Despite the lack of required facilities like automated testing centers and scrapping facilities to implement the vehicle scrapping policy, Traffic police have reportedly been imposing fines (e-challans) on owners of vehicles over 15 years old which many people find unacceptable.

It may be mentioned here that many people in Manipur drive second hand vehicles brought from other States too.

People are complaining that Traffic police are fining drivers of vehicles over 15 years old without explanation.

When questioned, the Traffic police told them to approach the Transport Department instead, which people find unfair.

Some people visited the Transport Department, but officials there just referred them to the Gazette notification without clarifying, leaving them confused.

People find the conduct of Traffic police unfair as the Manipur Vehicle Scrapping Policy, 2024 doesn't have any provision on penalising drivers of private vehicles which are over 15 years old.

Furthermore, the State doesn't have any automated testing station to test the fitness of vehicles.

People who were fined for driving old vehicles asserted the Government's policy is flawed and only harasses citizens.

They said that imposing fines without addressing the lack of necessary infrastructure to test the fitness of their vehicles is wrong.

Should the vehicles be simply scrapped just because they are over 15 years old without going for a fitness test, they asked and added there even are many vehicles which are over 20 years old in excellent condition.

They said that they wouldn't have complained if they were fined after their vehicles were proven unfit.

Speaking to The Sangai Express, a Transport official, on the condition of anonymity, said that there is no provision in Manipur Vehicle Scrapping Policy, 2024 to scrap private vehicles as of now.

He also said that the State still lacks facilities to implement the policy although the same has been in effect since February 13 last.

Saying that land has been procured at Lamlai to set up an automated testing centre, he said that the Ministry, however, hasn't released the fund to commence the construction work.

Further stating that they are considering reviewing the period of registration of private vehicles which currently is 15 years, he added that the absence of an automated testing centre in Manipur, however, will make the implementation of the policy difficult.