EXCLUSIVE
The Meghalaya government is in the final stages of formulating a Vehicle Scrappage Policy, with sources indicating that it will soon be brought before the cabinet for approval.
“The policy is at its final stage,” an official from the transport department confirmed.
However, the government has yet to decide whether vehicles older than 15 or 20 years will be scrapped, as modalities are still being worked out.
With Shillong’s roads burdened by excessive traffic, narrow lanes, and congestion, concerns are mounting over the continued presence of old, unfit vehicles. Meghalaya State Pollution Control Board (MSPCB) Chairman R. Nainamalai emphasized the urgency of the policy, stating, “The Pollution Control Board has to recommend the vehicle scrappage policy to control pollution arising from vehicular emissions to phase out old vehicles. There are so many vehicles in Meghalaya that are more than 10 years old and need to be phased out. This is mandatory across the country, and it is mandatory to be adopted in the state of Meghalaya also.”
He further stressed that controlling vehicular emissions requires cooperation from the transport department.
The Indian Vehicle Scrappage Policy, which came into effect in April 2022, mandates the scrapping of commercial vehicles older than 15 years and private vehicles older than 20 years if they fail mandatory fitness and emissions tests.
However, Meghalaya has yet to implement the policy, leaving its roads congested and pollution levels unchecked.