Govt Proposes Five-Year Extension in Age Limit for Cleaner Commercial Vehicles

The government has proposed extending the permissible age of certain commercial vehicles running on battery power, hydrogen and natural gas by up to five years under the national permit system.

The proposal has been outlined in a draft amendment issued by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), which aims to simplify national permit procedures while increasing the use of digital processes.

Under the proposed rules, the existing age limits of 12 years and 15 years for vehicles operating under the national permit system would be extended to 17 years and 20 years, respectively, for battery-operated, hydrogen-powered and natural gas-driven vehicles.

The proposed relaxation would apply specifically to these cleaner-fuel commercial vehicles and would not cover all vehicles operating under the national permit system.

The move comes as the government seeks to encourage the use of cleaner technologies in commercial transportation. Extending the operating life of such vehicles could also help operators get a longer period to recover their investment in alternative-fuel fleets.

The draft proposes another change aimed at reducing the administrative burden on transport operators. National permit holders would be allowed to obtain authorisation for up to five years instead of renewing it every year.

The annual fee would remain Rs 16,500, meaning operators opting for five years would pay Rs 82,500. The longer authorisation period could reduce the frequency of renewals and associated paperwork.

The government also plans to make greater use of the VAHAN database, potentially allowing vehicle and permit-related information to be accessed digitally and reducing the need for repeated submission of documents.

The draft amendment also proposes changes to temporary vehicle registration rules. A chassis without a body would receive temporary registration for six months from the date of issue. If the chassis remains at a workshop beyond that period for body fitting or because of circumstances beyond the vehicle owner's control, the registering authority could extend the validity by 30 days at a time, subject to an application and payment of the prescribed fee.

For fully built vehicles that are being converted into adapted vehicles, or vehicles that are to be registered in a state different from the state where the dealer is located, temporary registration would be valid for 45 days.

The proposed amendments also seek to introduce additional information requirements in vehicle registration and permit forms as part of efforts to improve the quality of vehicle records and streamline the regulatory process.

MoRTH has invited objections and suggestions from stakeholders and the public on the proposed amendments. Feedback can be submitted within 30 days from the date the notification is made available to the public.

If implemented, the proposed changes could provide greater operational flexibility to commercial vehicle owners while supporting the government's broader push towards cleaner fuels and more digital transport administration.