Bhubaneswar: The Centre has directed the State Commerce and Transport Department to submit a detailed report on the old and unfit vehicles within 15 days.
The directive came a day after the Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced the much-awaited voluntary vehicle scrapping policy during her Budget speech in the Parliament to phase out old and polluting vehicles.
"The centre has already directed the State to submit a report on the old vehicles that are above 15-20 years of age. Process has been initiated to identify such vehicles within a week. We will abide by the rules laid down by the Centre under the new policy," State Transport Minister Padmanava Behera said.
The state is yet to receive the detailed provisions of the policy. "Let it come first. Then we will take measures to implement it in the State accordingly," he added.
The policy will help reduce environmental pollution by 25% and also create more employment opportunities, Behera pointed out.
Sitharaman while announcing the policy yesterday in the Parliament, said that the new plan will help in encouraging fuel efficient, environment friendly vehicles, thereby reducing pollution and oil import bill.
Details of the scheme will be separately shared by the Road Transport and Highways Ministry, he added.
According to the new policy, vehicles would undergo fitness tests in automated fitness centres after 20 years in case of personal vehicles, and after 15 years in case of commercial vehicles. It aims to turn India to an automobile hub.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)