Starting July 1, Delhi will enforce a strict fuel ban on overage vehicles using ANPR surveillance
A Bold Step Towards Clean Air: Delhi Fuel Ban Begins
In a landmark move to combat the capital’s worsening air quality, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has announced that starting July 1, 2025, all end-of-life (EoL) vehicles diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 will be denied fuel at all petrol stations in Delhi. This rule applies to vehicles regardless of their registration state, closing a long-exploited loophole where owners registered vehicles outside Delhi to bypass local restrictions.
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To enforce this, Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed at 500 out of 520 fuel stations, with the remaining 20 expected to go live by June 30. These cameras are linked to the VAHAN database, enabling real-time identification of overage vehicles. Once flagged, alerts are sent instantly to enforcement teams, who are empowered to impound or direct vehicles for scrapping under the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) Rules.
This initiative is not just a policy tweak it’s a massive technological and administrative overhaul aimed at eliminating one of the largest contributors to Delhi’s toxic air: ageing, polluting vehicles.
The Numbers Behind the Crackdown: Why This Matters
Delhi alone is home to 62 lakh old vehicles, including 41 lakh two-wheelers, many of which continue to ply the roads despite Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal directives. Across the National Capital Region (NCR), the number of EoL vehicles stands at 44 lakh, concentrated heavily in high-traffic cities like Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonipat.
The CAQM’s data-driven approach has already screened over 3.63 crore vehicles, flagging 4.90 lakh as EoL. In parallel, 29.52 lakh vehicles renewed their Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC), generating challans worth ₹168 crore. These figures underscore both the scale of the problem and the urgency of the solution.
To ensure compliance, 100 enforcement teams comprising traffic police and transport officials have been deployed. These teams will monitor flagged vehicles, track fuel stations with high violations, and take swift legal action against non-compliant outlets.
What’s Next: Expansion Across NCR and Public Response
While Delhi leads the charge, the fuel ban will expand to five NCR cities, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonipat starting November 1, 2025. All fuel stations in these cities must install ANPR cameras by October 31. The rest of NCR has until March 31, 2026, with fuel bans kicking in from April 1, 2026.
The move has sparked mixed reactions. Environmentalists hail it as a game-changing intervention that finally puts teeth into long-standing pollution control laws. However, some fuel station operators have raised concerns about being penalized for implementation glitches, prompting the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association to seek further dialogue with the transport department.
Despite the friction, the broader public sentiment leans toward cautious optimism. With winters in Delhi often turning into a public health emergency due to smog, this policy could mark a turning point in the capital’s fight for breathable air.
Conclusion:
Delhi’s fuel ban on overage vehicles is more than just a regulatory measure it’s a symbol of political will, technological innovation, and environmental urgency. As the city braces for implementation, the rest of India will be watching closely. If successful, this model could become a blueprint for urban pollution control nationwide.
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