Delhi’s Fuel Ban for Old Vehicles

The Delhi Government has faced considerable backlash following its fuel ban for old vehicles under a directive from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The ban was implemented to curb the high levels of air pollution in Delhi, but due to operational issues, the government has made some changes to the enforcement system.

Background: Delhi’s Fuel Ban for Old Vehicles

Starting from July 1, 2025, the CAQM directive denied fuel to:

• Diesel vehicles older than 10 years

• Petrol vehicles older than 15 years

The goal is to phase out older vehicles that significantly contribute to air pollution. The ban follows previous court orders and is part of a broader strategy to improve air quality in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

Key Enforcement Details:

• Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed at 498 fuel stations and 3 ISBTs to detect End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs).

• ELVs are identified by their number plates, and an audio alert is triggered when one is detected. The vehicle is then denied fuel.

• Penalties: ELVs may be impounded and scrapped unless valid exemptions or documents are provided.

Technological Challenges in Implementation:

The Delhi Government flagged the premature enforcement of the fuel ban, citing several issues with the ANPR system:

• Camera misplacement and non-functional sensors have led to errors.

• The system has problems detecting End-of-Life Vehicles due to issues related to High-Security Registration Plates (HSRP).

• The lack of integration with NCR vehicle databases means that vehicle owners can bypass the ban by refueling in neighboring areas.

These issues have caused public inconvenience and widespread backlash, prompting the Delhi Government to revise the enforcement strategy and announce that End-of-Life vehicles will not be impounded immediately.

Why Older Vehicles Are a Concern:

• Pre-BS-VI vehicles (vehicles that don’t meet the BS-VI emissions standard, which was made mandatory from April 2020) contribute significantly to pollution.

• BS-IV vehicles (pre-2020 vehicles) emit 4.5 to 5.5 times more particulate matter than BS-VI vehicles, which are much cleaner.

• The transport sector contributes to:

  • 28% of PM2.5

  • 41% of SO₂

  • 78% of NOx emissions in Delhi, making it a primary source of the city's poor air quality.

Legal and Regulatory Framework:

• In 2015, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a ban on diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi-NCR. This was later upheld by the Supreme Court.

• In 2023, new scrapping rules were introduced under the Motor Vehicles Act and Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) Rules. These rules mandate scrapping of vehicles within 180 days after their registration expiry, reinforcing the age ban.

Challenges to the Ban’s Effectiveness:

While these measures are important, experts caution that no single measure — including the fuel ban for old vehicles — will fully address the air pollution crisis in Delhi. Some concerns raised include:

• Older vehicles are not the only significant polluters. Even newer vehicles can be highly polluting if poorly maintained.

• Vehicle age caps are difficult to enforce nationwide, and the impact of such measures may be limited without a broader, multi-pronged approach.

CSE’s Multi-Pronged Strategy:

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) has proposed a more comprehensive strategy to tackle Delhi’s severe air quality issues:

1. Upgrade fuel and emissions standards: Raising standards for both fuel and vehicles to ensure all cars, regardless of age, produce fewer emissions.

2. Strict enforcement of Pollution Under Control (PUC) checks: Ensuring vehicles meet the required emissions standards.

3. Expansion of public transport: Making public transportation a more viable option to reduce the number of private vehicles on the road.

Delhi’s Proposed New System for Handling Old Vehicles:

• In light of the backlash, the Delhi Environment Minister announced that a new system for handling End-of-Life vehicles is being planned. This will include changes to the current fuel denial system and likely new strategies for scrapping old vehicles and incentivizing newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles.

Conclusion:

While the fuel ban on old vehicles is a step towards reducing emissions and improving air quality, the Delhi Government recognizes the challenges in its immediate implementation. The technical issues with the ANPR system and bypass possibilities have led to a need for revisions in the approach. Experts advocate for a multi-faceted solution, combining stricter enforcement of emissions standards, better vehicle maintenance, and improved public transport options, rather than relying on a single strategy.