Today, Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, Taranjit Singh Sandhu, and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated 200 new electric buses at the Delhi University Sports Complex. This addition brings the total number of electric buses in Delhi’s fleet to nearly 5,000. The event also saw the participation of MLA Surya Prakash Khatri and various senior officials and dignitaries.
PARIVARTAN scheme applies to the Delhi-NCR region and has been implemented there simultaneously. This approval to implement the scheme in Delhi was granted at a recent Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta. These buses can be replaced only with BS-VI CNG or electric buses and will be eligible for the same benefits as goods vehicles. Keeping this objective in mind, the scheme provides that all LGVs purchased in Delhi under the scheme must be electric. For buses, only BS-VI CNG or electric (EV) vehicles will be permitted.
The Chief Minister said that under the scheme, owners of BS-IV or older Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) who scrap their vehicles and purchase a new electric LGV will receive a 100 per cent exemption on motor vehicle tax and registration fees for 10 years from the Delhi Government.
Earlier, the Delhi government approved the proposal to implement and support the Central government’s PARIVARTAN to phase out over two lakh old, polluting trucks and buses and replace them with BS-VI, higher-emission-standard or electric vehicles, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said. She said the Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways’ PARIVARTAN (Programme for Accelerated Renewal and Incentivisation of Vehicle Assets for Reducing Transport Air Pollution and Network Emissions) scheme’s implementation in the city will reduce transport-related air pollution and emissions. Under this scheme, the state government of the region where a commercial vehicle is registered will provide the specific concessions applicable to it, said an official statement. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the scheme also includes old BS-IV and older buses. She said the Delhi Government is fully committed to promoting clean transport.
It will replace many old, highly polluting commercial vehicles with cleaner, more modern ones, reducing air pollution. The Chief Minister said the scheme is expected to benefit around 2.07 lakh truck and bus owners in Delhi-NCR.
