Telangana Govt To Fine For Old Vehicles Not Scrapped Starting Next Year

Starting January 1, 2025, Telangana will enforce a policy to scrap vehicles older than 15 years that do not pass a mandatory fitness test. These vehicles will be banned from registration and road use. Owners can either scrap their vehicles or face fines if they continue driving them.

Vehicles that pass the test can remain operational for 3-5 more years by paying a green tax. Government vehicles will also be scrapped after 15 years, regardless of condition. The Regional Transport Authority has proposed this policy, modeled after Delhi’s regulations.

Telangana has over 30 lakh vehicles aged 15 years or more, with 20 lakh in Greater Hyderabad alone. This includes 17 lakh two-wheelers, 3.5 lakh cars, and 1 lakh goods carriages. To encourage scrapping, the government is considering a 10-15% rebate on motor vehicle tax for those purchasing new vehicles.

At least 1,000 RTC buses and 2,000 school buses are slated for scrapping under the new policy. In 2022, over 1,000 road accidents involved vehicles older than 15 years, leading to 418 deaths and more than 1,100 injuries.

Road safety experts warn that these older vehicles are highly prone to mechanical failures, such as brake and clutch issues, posing significant safety risks.