New Delhi Approves AIS-228 Retrofit Standard for Ageing Trucks and Buses

Key Highlights

• AIS-228 allows emission-control retrofitting for ageing heavy trucks and buses.

• Retrofit technology can cut PM emissions by up to 90%.

• NOx emissions can be reduced by up to 60%.

• Parivartan programme targets replacement of over 2 lakh old commercial vehicles.

• Trucks and buses contribute around 36% of Delhi-NCR's PM2.5 emissions.

India's road transport ministry has approved a new technical standard, AIS-228, aimed at reducing emissions from ageing heavy trucks and buses. The new standard allows eligible pre-BS6 commercial vehicles to be fitted with emission-control devices, offering vehicle owners an alternative to scrapping or replacing their old vehicles.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari announced the development while speaking at the 66th Annual Convention of the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) in New Delhi.

AIS-228 Retrofit Technology to Reduce Vehicle Emissions

According to Gadkari, the AIS-228 standard is based on an innovation developed at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi.

The retrofit technology can significantly reduce harmful emissions from older heavy commercial vehicles. Gadkari said the device can reduce:

• Particulate Matter (PM) emissions by up to 90%

• Nitrogen Oxides (NOx) emissions by up to 60%

He further stated that after retrofitting, the emission levels of a BS4 heavy vehicle could match those of a BS6 vehicle.

This development provides truck and bus operators with a new option to meet stricter pollution regulations without necessarily purchasing a completely new vehicle.

Alternative to Vehicle Scrapping and Replacement

Until now, operators of older commercial vehicles largely had two options when facing stricter emission rules: scrap the vehicle or replace it with a newer model.

The newly approved AIS-228 standard creates a third option by allowing suitable vehicles to be retrofitted with advanced emission-control technology.

However, Gadkari acknowledged that the new solution could affect demand for new vehicles, as retrofitting may be a more affordable option for fleet operators.

Addressing automobile manufacturers at the event, Gadkari said that the innovation could provide operators with an alternative to buying new vehicles, while also highlighting the environmental benefits of the technology.

He described the innovation as cost-effective and encouraged the automobile industry to make greater use of India's engineering talent and innovations developed by IIT graduates and startups.

Parivartan Programme Targets Over 2 Lakh Old Vehicles

The AIS-228 announcement comes as the government continues to implement the Parivartan programme, which was approved by the Union Cabinet in June.

The programme aims to replace more than two lakh ageing trucks and buses registered in Delhi and neighbouring National Capital Region (NCR) districts across:

• Haryana

• Rajasthan

• Uttar Pradesh

The total outlay for the programme is ₹9,585 crore, including ₹5,040 crore in central budgetary support.

The scheme encourages owners of BS4 and older vehicles to scrap their existing vehicles and replace them with newer BS6 or electric vehicles.

Benefits Offered Under the Parivartan Scheme

Vehicle owners participating in the Parivartan programme can receive several benefits, including:

• 10-year road tax waiver

• Registration fee exemption

• Purchase discounts

• Fuel vouchers

These incentives are designed to speed up the replacement of older, high-emission trucks and buses operating in Delhi-NCR.

According to Gadkari, more than 1,300 truck and bus owners had already registered under the scheme.

Delhi-NCR Scrapping Infrastructure Expands

The government has also expanded the vehicle scrapping infrastructure across the region.

The initial target was to establish 50 scrapping centres, but the government has already exceeded this number.

Currently:

• 53 scrapping centres are operational

• Five more centres are in the pipeline

The expanded infrastructure is expected to support the large-scale replacement of ageing commercial vehicles under the Parivartan programme.

Trucks and Buses Have a Major Impact on Delhi-NCR Pollution

Despite making up only around 3% of the total vehicle fleet in Delhi-NCR, trucks and buses contribute approximately 36% of the region's PM2.5 emissions, according to ministry figures.

This makes the replacement and upgrading of older heavy commercial vehicles an important part of the government's pollution-control strategy.

The government is now expected to rely on both vehicle scrappage and emission-control retrofitting to reduce pollution from ageing trucks and buses.

A New Compliance Option for Fleet Operators

The approval of AIS-228 could provide a more affordable route for owners of older heavy vehicles to comply with stricter emission norms.

While the Parivartan programme continues to encourage the replacement of old vehicles with BS6 and electric models, retrofit technology could help extend the usable life of eligible vehicles while significantly reducing harmful emissions.

The move also highlights the government's focus on combining vehicle fleet renewal, cleaner technologies and domestic innovation to address air pollution in Delhi-NCR and other parts of India.

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CMV360 Says

The approval of AIS-228 marks an important step in reducing emissions from India's ageing truck and bus fleet. By offering retrofitting alongside scrappage and vehicle replacement, the government provides operators with a more affordable compliance option. Combined with the ₹9,585 crore Parivartan programme, stronger scrapping infrastructure and cleaner BS6 and electric vehicles, this initiative could significantly help reduce pollution and modernise commercial transport across Delhi-NCR.