Wheels of Dissent: Citizens Rebel Against India’s New Vehicle Policy

India's new car policy, which seeks to phase out dirty old vehicles and bring in tougher traffic fines, has come under scathing attack from citizens nationwide. It is viewed by many as a "bitter pill"-an action that endangers personal finances, fond memories, and livelihoods, instead of merely tidying up the country's streets.

 

Key Highlights

 

Scrappage Policy Causes Uproar: The policy requires scrapping private cars older than 20 years and commercial ones above 15 years. Due to the government's contention that this will diminish pollution and develop the fleet, many citizens consider it to be unfair towards people who have taken good care of their vehicles. To some, the cars mean decades of toil and family tradition.

 

Economic and Emotional Implication: The expense of replacing the older cars with new, BS6-rated or electric vehicles is a matter of concern. Citizens opine that government incentives-including tax rebates and exemption of registration fees-fail to make new buys reasonable. This is particularly challenging for the middle-class families and small business entities that rely on their cars for day-to-day income.

 

Selective Enforcement and Cultural Loss: The critics say the policy ignores more important polluters, including some commercial fleets and businesses. Owners of vintage cars and rural motorists wonder why properly maintained vehicles need to be destroyed, losing cultural and historic significance.

 

Tougher Fines Compound Misery: Adding to the aggravation is the introduction of much stiffer traffic fines in 2025, which many see as more punitive than helpful in nature.

 

For Indians, the new car policy has a less progressive, more painful feel.

 

Source: The Shillong Times, Scroll.in, Moneycontrol