J&K to phase out 500 old buses

Tribune News Service

JAMMU, November 25

The UT administration will phase out 15-year-old 500 commercial buses and replace these with new eco-friendly, fuel-efficient buses under the Jammu and Kashmir Transport Subsidy Scheme.

The subsidy scheme, being introduced in a phased manner, is aimed at ensuring “optimum usage of available road space by transporting maximum number of people per unit of road space, which will obviate the problem of congestion, traffic jams and pollution”.

“In the first phase, at-least 500 commercial buses will be taken off roads under the subsidy scheme, which will help transporters in introducing new eco-friendly, fuel-efficient buses compliant to BS-IV and above norms,” a senior official of Transport Department said.

The official said an amount of Rs25 crore has been earmarked for the purchase of buses by private players in 2019-20 budget.

“The amount of subsidy for transporters will be Rs5 lakh per bus. In this way, we will be able to replace 500 old buses with new eco-friendly buses in the first phase,” the official said.

On November 20, the UT government rolled out Jammu and Kashmir Transport Subsidy Scheme for the replacement of 15-year-old buses with Rs5 lakh subsidy to transporters. The subsidy will be provided to only those, who are in need of loan to raise capital and state pollution board will certify the age of the vehicle.

The scheme is also intended to help in curtailing rising car ownership, problem of vehicle parking and reduced road space. The scheme may be extended to mini buses and matadors in future.

According to the scheme, for availing the subsidy, the officers concerned would be required to condemn the vehicle and get it scrapped and only after the deregistration of the vehicle, they will be allowed to avail the subsidy.

The scheme also says that applicants would be allowed three months to purchase the vehicles after entering into loan agreement with the bank concerned and subsidy component would be transferred to the bank on capital investment for subsequent payment to original equipment manufacturer (OEM).