📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / UnpetitproleX
Automobile
Jammu & Kashmir Sets 25‑Year Lifespan Limit for Commercial Vehicles
✍️ Daily Excelsior
🗓 17 Sep 2026, 05:16 AM
👁 13
The Jammu & Kashmir government announced that commercial vehicles will be retired after 25 years of service, aiming to improve road safety and reduce emissions.
The transport department of Jammu & Kashmir issued a circular on Monday mandating that all commercial vehicles – trucks, buses, and vans – must be withdrawn from service once they reach 25 years of age. The directive, which comes into effect from the start of the next financial year, requires owners to submit age certificates and obtain clearance before the stipulated deadline.
The rule covers every vehicle used for goods transport or passenger carriage that is registered in the state. Operators will have to arrange for the scrapping or sale of aging assets and procure newer, compliant units to continue business.
State officials said the measure is intended to modernise the fleet, curb frequent breakdowns, and bring the region’s road‑safety standards in line with national emission norms. They added that older vehicles contribute disproportionately to accidents and air pollution.
To ease the transition, the government is reportedly exploring subsidy schemes and low‑interest loans for small transport operators, although no concrete details have been released yet. Enforcement will begin with inspections at major transport hubs and weigh‑stations.
Transport unions have voiced concerns over the financial strain on drivers and small businesses, while consumer advocacy groups welcomed the focus on safety and environmental health.
The rule covers every vehicle used for goods transport or passenger carriage that is registered in the state. Operators will have to arrange for the scrapping or sale of aging assets and procure newer, compliant units to continue business.
State officials said the measure is intended to modernise the fleet, curb frequent breakdowns, and bring the region’s road‑safety standards in line with national emission norms. They added that older vehicles contribute disproportionately to accidents and air pollution.
To ease the transition, the government is reportedly exploring subsidy schemes and low‑interest loans for small transport operators, although no concrete details have been released yet. Enforcement will begin with inspections at major transport hubs and weigh‑stations.
Transport unions have voiced concerns over the financial strain on drivers and small businesses, while consumer advocacy groups welcomed the focus on safety and environmental health.