Bengal govt undertakes massive cleanup drive to scrap its 22,000 'aged' vehicles

Kolkata, Sep 7 (PTI) In an initiative aimed at modernising its fleet, the West Bengal government has launched a massive cleanup drive to scrap its nearly 22,000 vehicles that are over 15 years old, a senior official said.

The process, which is already underway, seeks to decommission the old vehicles used by various government departments, most notably police and transport, he said.

The state government is emphasising replacing these old vehicles with electric ones, he said.

"At least 698 vehicles from the police department, 481 from the transport sector, and 710 from various public sector undertakings have been earmarked for decommissioning," the official told PTI.

"In addition, departments such as Public Works, Panchayat, and Public Health Engineering (PHE) have collectively listed over 19,000 vehicles for scrapping, bringing the total number close to 22,000," he added.

The transport department has begun the identification of these 'aged' vehicles and initiated their removal from service, the official said, adding that every department has been informed about the registration details of the vehicles and instructed to withdraw them from operation.

"The list includes all types of vehicles, many of which have been in use for over a decade and a half," he said.

As these vehicles are being phased out, several departments have already begun procuring replacements, he said.

The official said that the state government is stressing the procurement of electric vehicles to replace the old ones.

"In a shift towards sustainable and eco-friendly practices, the procurement of electric vehicles is being prioritised over conventional fuel-based ones," the official said.

Also, many departments were moving away from vehicle ownership altogether, choosing instead to hire vehicles for official use.

"This decision stems not only from budgetary considerations but also from the need for greater flexibility and efficiency. A significant number of vehicles are now being rented, marking a major change in how government transport services are managed," the bureaucrat said, adding that the initiative aims to reduce the misuse of government vehicles.

"It is widely acknowledged within administrative circles that many government vehicles are often used for personal rather than official work.

"Moreover, there have been instances where individuals not entitled to a vehicle have been provided with one. The removal of a large number of vehicles from service is expected to curtail these irregularities," the official said.

Speaking about the fate of the vehicles that would be decommissioned, the official said that they have been moved to various government-owned open spaces and depots, where they will be stored until they are scrapped in phases.

The entire scrapping process is being carried out in strict compliance with the Supreme Court's directives, the bureaucrat added. PTI SCH ACD