Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced the approval of new AIS 228 standards for retrofitting rear emission-control devices on pre-BS6 heavy vehicles. The technology can reduce particulate matter (PM) emissions by up to 90 per cent and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 60 per cent.
The device, developed by a team led by IIT Delhi, costs around ₹4,000-5,000. Gadkari said trials have shown that emissions from a BS4 vehicle fitted with the retrofit device can be brought to levels comparable with those of a BS6 vehicle.
The new standards will provide a framework for fitting emission-control devices to older heavy vehicles, particularly trucks and buses. The measure is aimed at reducing emissions from vehicles that remain on the road despite being built to earlier emission standards.
Gadkari also called on automobile manufacturers to support the government’s vehicle scrappage programme by offering discounts to customers who surrender old vehicles and purchase new ones. He said the industry should view vehicle scrappage as a commercial opportunity that can generate demand for new vehicles and support higher production.
The government’s Parivartan scheme in the Delhi-NCR region, launched in July, targets the scrapping of more than two lakh older trucks and buses. The programme also provides incentives for purchasing newer BS6 and electric vehicles.
According to Gadkari, combining retrofitment of older vehicles with faster fleet replacement through scrappage can help tackle vehicular pollution while encouraging renewal of commercial vehicle fleets.
The minister also highlighted the progress of Bharat NCAP, saying more than 30 vehicle models from 11 companies have already been certified under the programme. He said the cost of vehicle safety testing under Bharat NCAP is around ₹60 lakh per model, compared with approximately ₹2.5 crore under Global NCAP.
The lower testing cost has also encouraged foreign automakers to bring vehicles to India for assessment, Gadkari said, adding that the programme is contributing to improvements in the credibility and quality of Indian vehicles in global markets.
The government plans to introduce Bharat NCAP 2 from October 2027. The upgraded programme will expand safety assessments beyond crashworthiness to cover crash avoidance, passenger protection, pedestrian safety and post-crash evacuation and care.
Gadkari also said the government would evaluate new global technologies and innovations developed by Indian startups for possible inclusion in the expanded safety framework and invited the automobile industry to submit suggestions and technologies for consideration.
