Beginning today, no petrol station in Delhi will be able to refuel diesel vehicles older than ten years or petrol vehicles older than fifteen years. This significant enforcement action is a component of a larger plan to lower air pollution in the nation's capital. This rule will be implemented at 350 petrol stations throughout the city, and cars that break the rules risk not only having their fuel refused but also having their vehicles seized.
In cooperation with the Delhi Transport Department, Delhi Police, and traffic enforcement units, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued the directive. In 2018 Apex Court decision that upholds the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) 2014 decision banning cars older than 15 from being parked or used in public areas lends legal support to the action.
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), Delhi Police, and the Delhi Transport Department have developed a comprehensive plan to guarantee efficient enforcement. Various enforcement teams have been assigned to the 350 targeted petrol stations. The first 100 stations, which have been determined to have the highest concentration of End-of-Life (EoL) vehicles, will be supervised by the Delhi Police. Operations at 59 stations will be overseen by Transport Department officials. Police and transportation officials will work together to supervise an additional 91 petrol pumps that are deemed particularly sensitive. MCD personnel will keep an eye on the remaining 100 stations. Each team has been given the power to confiscate cars that break the rule or impose fines.
In the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) have been issued by the Delhi government recently to guarantee uniformity in the enforcement procedure. Every fuel station is required by SOPs to maintain a record of any instances in which fuel is refused to an older vehicle. Additionally, a notice was stating that "Fuel will not be dispensed to End of Life Vehicles — that is 15-years-old Petrol and CNG and 10-years-old Diesel — July 30, 2025" must be prominently displayed at each pump. The purpose of these notices is to alert the common public and educate car owners about the new restriction.
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Additionally, all the fuel stations in the city have been directed to provide training to their staff on how to recognise EoL vehicles and adhere to SOPs. It will also come to notice that fuel stations will use Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems to help with identification and compliance. The Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation (DTIDC) will be in charge of maintaining these systems, which are essential for monitoring and confirming compliance in real time.
Nearly 41 lakh two-wheelers and 18 lakh four-wheelers are among the approximately 62 lakh End-of-Life vehicles in Delhi, according to data from the VAHAAN database. An additional 46 lakh EoL vehicles are located in the nearby National Capital Regions (NCR), which include Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. This raises the regional total to about 1.08 crore.
The Section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act of 1988 stipulates that fuel stations that disregard the enforcement measures will be penalised. The weekly reports of non-compliance will be compiled and sent to the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Commission for Air Quality Management for follow-up. As Delhi increases its efforts to reduce vehicle emissions and enhance air quality, this accountability system is meant to guarantee rigorous and consistent compliance with the regulations.
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