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Karnataka Explores Retrofitting Older Diesel Vehicles to Curb Pollution
M
Moneycontrol•16-10-2026, 14:48
Karnataka Explores Retrofitting Older Diesel Vehicles to Curb Pollution
- •The Karnataka Transport Department is inviting expressions of interest from manufacturers to test retrofit emission-control devices for older diesel vehicles.
- •The initiative aims to reduce particulate matter, smoke, and NOx emissions without forcing owners to immediately scrap their mechanically fit vehicles.
- •Targeted technologies include diesel oxidation catalysts, diesel particulate filters, and selective catalytic reduction systems for various vehicle categories.
- •The assessment covers diesel three-wheelers, passenger cars, buses, and commercial vehicles registered before April 1, 2017.
- •Karnataka reported having 1.15 crore vehicles aged over 15 years as of March 2026, alongside an existing vehicle scrapping policy.
Key Questions Answered
The Karnataka Transport Department is exploring retrofit emission-control devices (RECDs) for older diesel vehicles to reduce pollution without forcing owners to immediately replace or scrap them.
The department is evaluating diesel oxidation catalysts, diesel particulate filters, selective catalytic reduction systems, and combined emission-control systems for various vehicle categories.
As of March 31, 2026, Karnataka had 1.15 crore vehicles aged over 15 years, with Bengaluru accounting for 34.8 lakh of those vehicles.
