*Hyderabad, September 19, 2024:* The Telangana government, under Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, has announced a major initiative to address vehicular pollution and enhance road safety. From January 1, 2025, vehicles older than 15 years, as well as those that fail mandatory fitness tests, will no longer be permitted on the roads. The government has also decided not to register such vehicles, marking a decisive move to phase out old, polluting automobiles. Mandatory Fitness Tests and Green TaxUnder the new regulations, vehicles that pass the fitness tests will be allowed to continue operating for an additional three to five years, provided they pay a “green tax.” However, government vehicles over 15 years old will not be exempt from this policy and will be scrapped as well. Reports indicate that there are around 10,000 such government vehicles currently in operation.Telangana’s move follows the footsteps of Delhi, where vehicles over 15 years old are already banned from the roads. Additionally, the state hopes to align with policies implemented in other states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan, where similar measures have been proposed or are in place to curb vehicular pollution. Impact on Greater HyderabadThe initiative will have a significant impact on vehicle owners in the state, particularly in Greater Hyderabad. According to government data, over 30 lakh vehicles in Telangana are more than 15 years old, with 20 lakh of these within the Greater Hyderabad region. These include 17 lakh two-wheelers, 3.5 lakh cars, 1 lakh goods vehicles, and 20,000 autorickshaws. Scrapping RTC Buses and Educational Institution VehiclesAmong the vehicles set to be scrapped are around 1,000 Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) buses, which have been in operation for over 15 years. Additionally, officials have identified over 2,000 buses belonging to educational institutions that also exceed the 15-year limit. To encourage vehicle owners to participate in the scrapping program, the government is considering offering a 10 to 15 percent concession on motor vehicle tax for those who scrap old vehicles voluntarily.Road Safety ConcernsThe decision comes in light of a concerning report from the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, which revealed that vehicles older than 15 years were involved in over 1,000 road accidents in 2022. These accidents resulted in 418 fatalities, highlighting the safety risks associated with aging vehicles. Road safety experts have also pointed out that older vehicles are more prone to frequent breakdowns and pose a higher risk to both drivers and pedestrians.As the January 2025 deadline approaches, the government hopes this initiative will lead to a reduction in pollution, improve road safety, and bring Telangana in line with other states actively working to modernize their vehicle fleets.