West Bengal moves to scrap 22,000 old government vehicles replacing them with EVs to boost clean transport and safety

West Bengal has taken a big step toward cleaner roads and safer fleets by deciding to retire around 22,000 government vehicles that are older than fifteen years and replace them with electric vehicles. This plan affects departments from police and transport to public works and health. Officials have already begun listing out which vehicles will be decommissioned.

The trigger for the move was a tragic brake failure in one old government vehicle, which led to a fatal accident. It turned out the vehicle had exceeded the 15-year age limit, prompting the state government to act more quickly on phasing out ageing, unsafe government cars.

The scrapping will include around 700 police vehicles, nearly 500 transport department units, and around 710 vehicles from state-run organisations. The remaining 19,793 vehicles belong to departments such as Public Works, Panchayat, Health, and Technical Services. Some old government and private vehicles are already being seized, stored in depots, and will be phased out in stages.

By pushing for EV replacement of retired vehicles, the government hopes to reduce emissions, cut fuel and maintenance costs, and set an example for sustainable mobility. It also aligns with court orders that require phasing out vehicles older than 15 years, though there may be reviews if national rules change.

Implementing this transition will not be simple. Procuring enough EVs, ensuring charging infrastructure, training personnel, and integrating EVs into functions like police and health services require planning. But the decision signals that West Bengal is serious about green mobility and safety for all its departments.