The Delhi government has backtracked on its recently-implemented ban on fuel sales to vehicles classified under "end of life" status, i.e. petrol vehicles over 15 years of age and diesel vehicles over 10 years of age. This pause is a consequence of operational and technical challenges surrounding the fuel ban, as well as public backlash.
On July 1, over 350 fuel stations across Delhi-NCR were equipped with AI-powered automatic number plate reader (ANPR) cameras and automated hooter systems – alongside enforcement teams comprising government officials at some stations in South Delhi – to detect end-of-life vehicles pulling in to refuel. Owners caught violating the fuel ban would have their vehicles impounded straight away.
- ANPR cameras "not working properly" at fuel stations in Delhi, with more technical issues
- Owners of end-of-life vehicles could simply procure fuel from adjacent districts
- Delhi fuel ban could be levied again by November 2025
Delhi fuel ban for old petrol and diesel vehicles put on hold
Fuel ban retracted until ANPR system is fully integrated across Delhi-NCR
Mere days later, a letter issued by Delhi Environment Minister Sardar Majinder Singh Sirsa to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) states: “It is not feasible to implement this order at this juncture. In fact, immediate implementation of the direction may be premature and potentially counterproductive. We urge the Commission to put the implementation of Direction No. 89 on hold with immediate effect till the ANPR system is seamlessly integrated across the entire NCR.”
Govt wants to avoid "fostering" a black market for fuel
Sirsa outlined that the ANPR system is "not working properly at many places," and also made note of "crucial issues related to technological glitches, camera placement, sensors not working, and speakers not functioning." Moreover, the minister pointed out that a "stage-wise implementation" for the fuel ban that starts only in Delhi will not fulfill its "intended purpose," as owners of end-of-life vehicles can simply purchase fuel from surrounding districts like Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad where the ANPR system hasn’t been installed yet, thereby "fostering an illegal cross-border market for fuel."
Delhi fuel ban may kick in again later this year
To that end, the Delhi fuel ban for end-of-life vehicles has been put on the back burner until fuel stations in adjacent districts are fitted with ANPR systems, which is expected to be completed by November 1, 2025. This means the fuel ban might well be implemented again in under four months from now.
Emissions-based assessment of end-of-life vehicles
In a briefing to reporters, Sirsa notably admitted that instead of enforcing blanket bans based on vehicle age, an emissions-based assessment would make for a more rational system. Hopefully, the Delhi government will consider re-reviewing the infamous 2018 Supreme Court ruling that banned plying of petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years in the national capital. Private buyers of diesel vehicles in Delhi especially get the short end of the stick, as they pay for 15 years worth of registration tax, but can only drive their vehicles in the city for 10 years.
Hormazd Sorabjee
Anurag Chaturvedi
