Don't ply 15-yr-old petrol vehicles, 10-yr-old diesel vehicles, scrap them at authorised centres: Delhi govt

In a public notice, the government declared that, while registration certificates for all types of cars are valid for 15 years, a diesel vehicle cannot run in Delhi after 10 years.

The Delhi government's transport department urged citizens on Monday not to drive 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel cars and to get them destroyed at authorised centres. In a public notice, the government declared that, while registration certificates for all types of cars are valid for 15 years, a diesel vehicle cannot run in Delhi after 10 years. However, it noted that no-objection certifications for cars aged 10 to 15 years could be obtained to be registered in states where it is legal.

According to the notification, owners of over-ten-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol cars are urged not to drive them on Delhi/NCR roads. It further suggested getting such wrecked cars scrapped by authorised scrappers of the transportation department.

It also referenced a Supreme Court order authorising the impoundment of used diesel and gasoline cars. If they pass a fitness test, the Union government has allowed outdated automobiles to be scrapped as part of its voluntary car disposal scheme. Personal vehicles must undergo a fitness test after 20 years, whereas commercial vehicles must do so after 15 years.

Out of nearly one crore registered cars in Delhi, about 37 lakh are end-of-life vehicles, including two-wheelers.  Authorities do not take drastic action against such cars because of practical problems such as a lack of appropriate scrapping facilities and storage space for impounded vehicles.

In other news, the road transport ministry has issued a new regulation that allows you to obtain a driver's licence after completing training at any recognised driver training centre. It would not be required to take a driving test at any RTO.

The Ministry of Road Transport & Highways (MoRTH) claimed that these centres would be equipped with simulators and a dedicated driving test track to give high-quality training to applicants, as well as remedial and refresher courses needed under the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988.