TL;DR

• <h2>IIT Delhi Innovation to Tackle Old Diesel Vehicle Pollution</h2><p>The Indian government is poised to implement a significant measure to combat vehicular pollution, allowing older diesel trucks and buses to be fitted with a low-cost emission-control device. This innovative solution, developed from research at the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), received backing from Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari.</p><p>Announced by Minister Gadkari at an event organised by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) on Thursday, these retrofit emission-control devices (RECDs) are engineered to drastically reduce harmful emissions. According to details shared by the minister, RECDs can cut particulate matter emissions by up to 90% and nitrogen oxide emissions by approximately 60 per cent. The technology is designed to be compatible with BS-III, BS-IV, and even older diesel vehicles, aiming to bring their emission levels close to those of modern BS-VI compliant vehicles.</p><p>An RECD functions as a pollution-control mechanism, akin to an air purifier for exhaust systems. It cleans the exhaust from existing diesel generators and vehicles before it is released into the atmosphere, effectively reducing pollutants such as soot, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxides. The device ensures that "dirty exhaust goes in, cleaner exhaust comes out."</p><p>A key advantage of this IIT Delhi innovation is its affordability. The retrofit device is projected to cost between Rs 4,000 and Rs 5,000. This makes it a considerably more economical option compared to the substantial expense of replacing an ageing commercial vehicle with a new BS-VI-compliant model.</p><p>Minister Gadkari confirmed that the technology has successfully completed its testing phase. This initiative will complement the government’s existing programme focused on scrapping and replacing older heavy vehicles, offering a dual approach to mitigating vehicular pollution from the large fleet of older diesel vehicles still operating across Indian roads. The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways is currently preparing to notify Automotive Industry Standard 228 (AIS-228), which will outline the technical specifications and performance requirements for these retrofit emission-control devices, paving the way for their widespread rollout.</p>