Starting today, Delhi fuel stations may display notices reading “Fuel will not be dispensed to ‘end of life’ vehicles”—a part of the Delhi government’s new initiative to tackle the capital’s severe air pollution problem. Under this new rule, petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years will no longer be allowed to refuel at any petrol pump in the city.
Why This Ban?
According to a Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) report from November 2024, vehicles are the top contributors to Delhi’s air pollution, accounting for 51% of emissions. In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued Statutory Direction No. 89, targeting all types of overaged vehicles — including goods carriers, commercial fleets, vintage cars, and two-wheelers.
This policy impacts over 62 lakh vehicles in Delhi alone, with surrounding states also seeing significant numbers:
- Haryana: 27.5 lakh overaged vehicles
- Uttar Pradesh: 12.69 lakh
- Rajasthan: 6.2 lakh
How Will It Work?
To enforce the ban, the Delhi Transport Department has implemented a deployment plan involving:
- Delhi Police: At fuel stations numbered 1 to 100
- Transport Department teams: At stations numbered 101 to 159
- Traffic Police: One officer at each of 350 major petrol pumps
- Additional security: Two extra police personnel per pump to handle disputes
Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras installed at 498 fuel stations will scan vehicle number plates and match them with the VAHAN database to detect end-of-life vehicles. If a match is found, the system will alert the station operator, and the information will be shared with enforcement teams for further action, including vehicle impounding and scrapping.
Concerns on the Ground
The move has triggered mixed reactions. Petrol pump dealer Nischal Singhania suggested that the rule is too abrupt:
“A trial run of 15 to 30 days should have happened. We fear missing vehicles and getting penalised. How long will the enforcement teams stay? What after that?”
Commuter Mohit echoed similar concerns, pointing out that many people remain unaware of the ban.
“There’s been no awareness campaign. People transiting through Delhi will be caught off guard.”
At Green Park, NDTV reporters found that staff were untrained and confused about enforcement.
“There are old but well-maintained vehicles that might not pollute as much. What about them? Also, everyone should have a valid PUCC,” said one two-wheeler rider.
What’s Next?
While the government believes this move is essential for long-term air quality improvement, practical hurdles remain—particularly around public awareness, training of fuel station staff, and fair treatment of vehicle owners with well-maintained older vehicles. Authorities are yet to announce whether the scheme will expand uniformly across NCR or adapt based on feedback.
