New Delhi, Sept. 5 -- A low-cost device developed from an IIT-Delhi innovation could soon offer India's ageing diesel trucks and buses a new lease of life - while cutting some of their most harmful emissions by as much as 90%.

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has announced that the government is preparing to allow older and heavily polluting diesel vehicles to be fitted with retrofit emission control devices, or RECDs, instead of relying only on scrappage and replacement

The technology is expected to cost around Rs.4,000 to Rs.5,000 per vehicle.

That price point is central to the government's plan. Replacing an ageing truck or bus with a newer vehicle is a major financial decision for fleet owners. Retrofitting,...