Archive · 31 Aug 2026
West Bengal Bus Operators Challenge 15-Year Vehicle Scrapping Policy
Private bus operators in West Bengal want the government to change a rule about very old buses.
The rule says commercial vehicles more than 15 years old may have to be removed from service.
The operators say a bus should not be scrapped just because of its age if it passes pollution and safety tests.
They suggest improving engines and checking pollution every six months.
They also want better-quality fuel to help reduce pollution.
The operators say many bus owners and workers depend on these vehicles for their livelihoods.
The Calcutta High Court has reportedly allowed some older buses to continue operating if they pass required tests.
The operators support cleaner air but oppose removing all older buses automatically.
The Joint Council of Bus Syndicate urged the West Bengal government and judiciary to reconsider scrapping commercial vehicles older than 15 years.
Operators said buses meeting pollution and fitness standards should be allowed to operate in Kolkata and the Kolkata Metropolitan Area.
They proposed engine replacement or upgrades, stricter emissions testing, and improved fuel quality instead of blanket scrapping.
The operators cited the economic impact on thousands of bus owners, workers, and their families.
The report says a November 2025 Calcutta High Court order conditionally allowed 15-year-old stage-carriage buses to operate if they pass twice-yearly fitness and pollution tests.
- Who
- The Joint Council of Bus Syndicate and private bus operators in West Bengal, represented by general secretary Tapan Bannerjee.
- What
- They urged the state government and judiciary to reconsider the policy of scrapping commercial vehicles older than 15 years.
- When
- The representation was made on Monday, August 31; the report also refers to a Calcutta High Court order from November 2025.
- Where
- Kolkata and the Kolkata Metropolitan Area in West Bengal.
- Why
- Operators said blanket scrapping would impose a heavy financial burden, affect bus-dependent livelihoods, and may be unnecessary for vehicles that meet pollution and fitness standards.
Bus Operators
Age-Based Scrapping Policy
How to control pollution
Bus Operators
Buses that meet prescribed pollution limits should not be scrapped solely because they are more than 15 years old; stricter testing, cleaner fuel, and engine upgrades could address emissions.
Age-Based Scrapping Policy
The reported policy and earlier court direction restrict vehicles older than 15 years from operating in the Kolkata Metropolitan Area, reflecting an age-based approach to reducing pollution.
Economic impact
Bus Operators
Blanket scrapping could financially burden bus owners and disrupt the livelihoods of bus workers and their families.
Age-Based Scrapping Policy
The policy’s stated context is pollution control, and the court’s reported conditional relief allows continued operation only when older buses pass fitness and pollution tests.
Scope and fairness of the rule
Bus Operators
The syndicate asked whether similar rules are applied uniformly across India and argued that the law should apply equally to everyone.
Age-Based Scrapping Policy
The operators’ request indicates that the existing restriction remains the framework being challenged for Kolkata and the surrounding metropolitan area.
- Operators' body
- Joint Council of Bus Syndicate
- Age threshold
- Commercial vehicles more than 15 years old
- Affected area
- Kolkata Metropolitan Area
- Estimated private buses
- About 2,500 buses operate in the city and nearby areas
- Proposed alternative
- Engine replacement or upgrades, stricter emissions testing, and better-quality fuel
- Reported court relief
- In November 2025, 15-year-old stage-carriage buses were conditionally allowed to operate if they pass biannual fitness and pollution tests
- Livelihood concern
- Operators said thousands of bus owners and workers, along with their families, depend on the sector