The Delhi government has hit 'pause' on the fuel ban decision that prevented older vehicles from getting petrol and diesel.Sudden U- turn within hours of implementing this has pushed into 'analytical churning' , making everyone wonder is this because of middle class backlash or political pressure, or the technical reasons, which government is projecting as the main reason ...?
This ban, effective from July 1, targeted petrol vehicles over 15 years old and diesel ones over 10 years old—all labeled as “end-of-life” (EOL) vehicles. The aim was to fight air pollution under a directive from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). But amid public uproar and political backlash, the policy has been put on hold until further notice.
The move indeed sparked significant backlash from general public particularly from those whose vehicles were seized or whose were to be seized under the new policy. The government faced huge political ire and criticism. Amidst the public outrage and political criticism, the BJP government sought suspension of the ban for now,
On July 3 Delhi government urged the Centre's air quality panel to immediately suspend the fuel ban on overage vehicles and said it will make "all out efforts" to resolve issues related to restrictions on the movement of end-of-life vehicles on city roads.
In his letter to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) chairman Rajesh Verma, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the fuel ban is not feasible and cannot be implemented due to technological challenges.
But what prompted the Delhi government to rethink the decision days after implementing it? Was it outrage from the middle class as seen on social media or political pressure that pushed the Bharatiya Janata Party government in the national capital to seek more time to implement the decision?
“This decision is adversely affecting the daily lives and livelihoods of millions of families. Our government is fully committed to controlling air pollution and is working on long-term solutions for clean, sustainable transport," CM rekha Gupta said in a post on X.
"The Delhi Government always stands with the people of Delhi with its resolve for public welfare and public facilities.”In the letter, Sirsa contended 'the fuel ban is not feasible and that it cannot be implemented due to technological challenges.'
Experts argue that the ban on overage vehicles in Delhi is not new, but the way it is being implemented by denying fuel at petrol pumps is new. The decision to deny fuel impacts the middle class, a vote bank that substantially supported the BJP when it came to power in the national capital after 27 years in February 2025.
A majority of Delhi vehicle owners (79 per cent) are against the ‘fuel ban for old vehicles’ rule, according to a new survey released on July 3. In the survey by LocalCircles, people were asked whether they supported the Delhi government's new rule that petrol pumps cannot sell fuel to 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles (including two-wheelers).Out of 16,907 who responded to the question, 79 per cent said “no,” and the remaining 21 per cent said “yes.”
The opposition has also criticised the ban. Aam Aadmi Party leader and former deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia called the move a ‘Tughlaqi farmaan’ – a draconian order which is against the middle-class. AAP leaders have since been raking the issue up and after u turn on the decision the leaders are leaving no stone unturned to project the move as completely anti people, without considering the implications in terms of financial constraints it would make people to face. Sisodia said in a post on X demanding that the order be immediately withdrawn.
Government did not lose time in understanding both the views which explains why it has been put on hold for now.
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