Mon Nov 18 15:35:13 UTC 2024: ## Delhi Halts Scrapping of Impounded Vehicles Amidst Application Backlog

**New Delhi, India –** The Delhi Transport Department has temporarily halted the scrapping of impounded end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) until November 29th, causing frustration among registered vehicle scrapping facilities (RVSFs). The department cited a large backlog of pending applications from vehicle owners seeking the release of their impounded vehicles.

The move comes as part of a pollution control drive targeting older diesel and petrol vehicles in the Delhi-NCR region. Over 3,000 vehicles have been impounded since October 11th, with approximately 485 applications for release received by the department. While release orders have been issued for over 100 vehicles, a significant number remain pending.

The delay is partly attributed to a newly launched online portal designed to streamline the process between enforcement agencies, RVSFs, and vehicle owners. However, the portal, launched on October 21st, is reportedly not fully functional, creating a bottleneck in processing applications.

Vikram Bakshi, Director of Pineview Technology Limited, an RVSF, voiced concerns about the impact of the halt. He highlighted the added costs for both RVSFs, who incur storage and resource costs, and vehicle owners, who face parking fees and penalties reaching Rs 10,000 for cars and Rs 5,000 for two-wheelers. RVSFs are reportedly planning a strike next week over the issue.

While the transport department acknowledges the portal’s limitations and resulting backlog, it maintains that all applications are being processed according to standard operating procedures. The department’s decision to halt scrapping until November 29th aims to ensure that all applications are addressed before proceeding.

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