'Considering revision of vehicle scrapping policy'
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, May 13 2025: The Manipur Vehicle Scrapping Policy, 2024 aims to phase out old vehicles for a safer road and cleaner environment but a vehicle of 15 years cannot be subjected to scrappage before conducting fitness test.

According to a Transport Department official, it is good for the state to have vehicle scrappage policy but there is no specific rule for declaring a vehicle unfit for operation after 15 years of usage.

There are many vehicles considered unfit before attaining 15 years from the date of purchase while many others remain fit even after the said years.

There is a misconception among public about 15 years as life-span of a vehicle specified in the vehicle scrapping Act, noted the official, adding that the transport department is working to revise provisions of the Act to clear this misconception.

The state government had already issued a gazette notification for the Manipur Vehicle Scrapping Policy, 2024.Attainment of 15 years of age for a vehicle from the date of registration is the time for one-time tax and there is no specific rule for sending such vehicles for scrapping.

Only the testing centre has to decide a vehicle fit or unfit but the state is yet to have automated vehicle testing centre as of now and there is some relaxation to the guidelines given by the ministry.

In view of these hiccups, state government is unable to take up concrete steps for implementation of the vehicle scrapping policy, the official informed.

The transport department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, informed The People's Chronicle that there is a decision for scrapping old vehicles of the state government after bidding on online portal.

The state is yet to have a registered vehicle scrapping facility but discussion for establishing such a facility and run the same under Public Private Partnership (PPP) model has begun.

Additionally, the government has no land for construction of a vehicle scrapping centre as of now.

As for automated vehicle testing centre, the government has procured a four acre land at Lamlai in Imphal East district and even registered under the transport department.

The automated vehicle testing centre has to be constructed by state government with the help of the ministry.

State government has to bear the costs of civil work and administrative block of the centre while the ministry will provide necessary machineries and infrastructure, the official informed.

According to the official, state government had already approached and written to the ministry for construction of a registered vehicle scrapping facility and the ministry also gave approval for construction of a medium size vehicle scrapping facility.

However, there has been no sanction of fund for the facility from the ministry, the official added.

The Manipur Vehicle Scrapping Policy, 2024 specified certain categories of vehicles which might go for scrapping.

The vehicles include those failed to renew certificate of registration (RC), unfit to issue certificate of fitness and vehicles more than 15 years of age belonging to the government, PSUs, government agencies and autonomous councils.

Charred vehicles, vehicles damaged in public agitations and natural calamities like flood and accidents may also go for scrapping under the Act.

There is also tax concession of 10 percent for vehicle owners in purchasing new vehicle after scrapping their old vehicles, the official informed.

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