Even as the country's construction equipment (CE) industry transitions to stringent emission and safety regulations, the rising import of used CE vehicles is emerging as a key concern amongst industry players. 

In recent months, there has been a noticeable increase in imports of used construction equipment vehicles (CEVs), including mobile cranes, tyre-mounted equipment, and access platforms. Driven by lower upfront costs, many of these imports are non-compliant with current emission and safety standards, posing risks to operators and the environment.

Industry lobby body, ICEMA, in its latest newsletter, stated that such equipment contributes to higher emissions and often lacks mandated safety features. "The trend also risks positioning India as a dumping ground for substandard machinery, despite the country’s strong domestic manufacturing capabilities and established CE ecosystem", ICEMA remarked in its latest quarterly update. 

The development comes even as the industry is at a critical juncture, as it aligns with stringent emission and safety regulations, following the implementation of CEV Stage V emission norms and Phase-II safety requirements effective 1 January 2025.