The Regional Transport Office (RTO) in Delhi has been directed by the National Green Tribunal to deregister all diesel vehicles which are over a decade old. This order has been passed with immediate effect, by a bench headed by NGT Chairperson Justice Swatanter Kumar, as a move to curb rising pollution in the region. The RTO has been asked to provide a list of all such vehicles to the Delhi Traffic Police.

In April 2015, the NGT directed the government to ban all diesel vehicles over 10 years in the national capital region, however, this wasn’t enforced as it was pointed out that only the RTO had the authority to carry out this ban. Therefore, the NGT has now issued a public notice to the RTO to ensure the implementation of this ban.

Owners will now have their eyes on the government, hoping for an incentive policy for those looking to dispose off / scrap their old vehicles.

This move is likely to generate demand for new cars in the market, after owners of the banned vehicles are likely to flock to the showrooms to purchase replacements. On the flip side, demand for diesel vehicles will dwindle further due to their uncertain future in the country.

Diesel vehicles have been on the radar of the NGT for a while now. Recently, the NGT had expressed its intention to implement a ban on the registration of new diesel vehicles over 2,000cc, similar to the one implemented in Delhi-NCR since December 2015, in several cities across the country.