PM Narendra Modi announces a vehicle scrappage policy, describing it as a watershed moment in India’s development

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi delivered a video message to the Gujarat Investor Summit today (August 13, 2021). The Summit’s goal was to encourage investment in car scrapping infrastructure as part of the Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program or the Vehicle Scrapping Policy.

The Prime Minister feels that the Investor Summit in Gujarat for the establishment of automobile scrapping infrastructure will offer up new avenues of opportunity. He also invited young people and start-ups to participate in this program.

“The scrappage strategy will give the country’s vehicle sector a new character. It will play a significant role in removing unsafe vehicles from the road and bringing about positive change in all sectors, not just the auto industry,” stated Prime Minister Modi at the event in Gujarat.

“We’re going to approach the 75th year of our country’s independence. From this point forward, the next 25 years are critical for the country. Changes will occur in our way of working, our everyday lives, and our enterprises over the next 25 years,” remarked Prime Minister Modi.

In his speech, the Prime Minister also drew connections between Indian residents’ lifestyles and the country’s economy. He feels that this approach will greatly benefit the country’s middle class.

“The rate at which technology is advancing, whether it is our lifestyle or our economy, will result in significant changes in both. In the midst of these changes, it is also critical to maintaining our environment, our land, our resources, and our raw materials,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi remarked.

While emphasizing the need of sustainable development, Prime Minister Modi underlined that technology and innovation are the way of the future. “In the future, we can concentrate on technology and innovation, but the natural resources we obtain from mother earth are not in our hands. So, on the one hand, India is exploring for new opportunities through the Deep Ocean Mission, and on the other, it is pushing the Circular Economy,” stated Prime Minister Modi.

“The goal is to make development more sustainable and environmentally friendly. We are dealing with the effects of climate change. As a result, in the interests of its population, India must take significant steps,” PM Modi added.

The Vehicle Scrapping Policy aims to establish an eco-system for phasing out obsolete and polluting vehicles in an environmentally friendly and safe manner. The initiative proposes to build scrapping infrastructure around the country in the form of Automated Testing Stations and Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities.

The Investors Summit is being held to solicit investment for the establishment of car scrapping infrastructure under the Voluntary Vehicle-Fleet Modernization Program or the Vehicle Scrapping Policy, according to a statement from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The Summit is co-organized by the Ministry of Road Transport & Highways and the Gujarat government.