1.9 lakh vehicles have exceeded 15 years of age
PANAJI
Goa’s first Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility is set to commence operations by October 15 with the initial batch comprising aging government vehicles. Located in the Madkai Industrial Development Corporation, the facility is developed by Mangal Iron Pvt Ltd and will adhere to strict government guidelines.
Assistant Director of Transport Francisco Vaz confirmed to The Goan that the facility is on track for its official commissioning. “There are a few remaining clearances such as PUC and power supply among others, all of which are being processed simultaneously. It will meet the deadline and operations will begin by October 15,” he assured.
The facility, designed to scrap aging government vehicles, will also cater to private vehicles. As per the Government of India’s guidelines, private vehicle owners who scrap their old vehicles at the facility will be eligible for tax waivers and other incentives for purchasing a new vehicle.
Official records indicate that 1.9 lakh vehicles in Goa including 521 government vehicles have exceeded 15 years of age and are ready for scrapping. Over the next five years, an additional 3.5 lakh vehicles, primarily from the commercial sector, will also cross the 15-year mark and be eligible for scrapping.
This development comes as a relief to local vehicle owners, who previously had to send end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) to Maharashtra or Karnataka for disposal. The Goa facility will have the capacity to scrap around 2,500 vehicles per month, following scientific processes.
The government had earlier faced challenges to attract investors. The deadline for bids was extended from October 31, 2023 to December 31, 2023 to encourage participation. Challenges of acquiring vast and expensive land and apprehending opposition from the locals -- who have been resistant to various government projects -- were some factors that deterred bidders from taking part in the scrapping process.
Meanwhile, the Transport Department has also denied any communication regarding the Central government’s thought to consider changing the scrappage policy to focus more on pollution levels rather than the age of the vehicle.
