Noida: Transport authorities in Noida and Ghaziabad will seize and deregister vehicles that have crossed their permitted age limit if found plying on roads and send them to registered vehicle scrapping facilities. Owners of such vehicles registered outside NCR will face a Rs 5,000 fine if they are found operating in the region.The crackdown – implemented with immediate effect – is being stepped up ahead of winter, when vehicular emissions add to the region’s pollution burden. It follows the long-standing prohibition on diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol and CNG vehicles older than 15 years in NCR. The move also conforms to enforcement directions issued by the Supreme Court and CAQM.“Under directions issued by National Green Tribunal (NGT), the Supreme Court and Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), enforcement action will be taken against diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol and CNG ones older than 15 years across NCR. Such vehicles are most likely to be seized and deregistered without a separate notice being issued to their owners,” said Amit Ranjan Rai, assistant regional officer in Ghaziabad.The first step of the crackdown will involve identification by transport enforcement teams. Once an overage vehicle is found plying, officials will seize it and complete the required deregistration process. The vehicle will then be handed over to an authorised scrapping facility.The action will not be limited to vehicles registered in just NCR. An overage vehicle registered outside the region will also be liable for action if found operating here. According to officials, it will be fined Rs 5,000. Officials also clarified that action can be taken against overage vehicles found parked in public or shared parking areas.Owners, however, have a way to avoid the outcome. Transport officials advised them to voluntarily surrender overage vehicles at a govt-authorised scrapping facility. This way, they can receive the vehicle’s market value and – after obtaining a certificate of deposit (COD) – may qualify for applicable incentives and benefits while buying another vehicle.These benefits will no longer be applicable once enforcement teams seize the vehicle. “Such vehicles will instead be disposed of according to the minimum reserve value prescribed by the ministry of steel. Any applicable towing and parking charges will also be recovered from the vehicle owner,” Rai said. Such vehicles will not qualify for the voluntary scrapping incentive.Officials pointed out that owners will not receive any separate warning before enforcement.The crackdown also covers vehicles meeting BS-I or earlier emission standards, officials said.
