The Delhi government announced on Sunday that, starting July 1, overage vehicles will no longer be allowed to refuel at petrol stations. Officials stated that the installation of cameras at fuel stations to identify such vehicles is nearly complete.
This directive follows an April 2025 order from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which mandated that fuel stations in Delhi must deny fuel to all end-of-life (EoL) vehicles — specifically, diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years — beginning July 1.
Phasing out old vehicles
To implement the measure, all fuel stations are required to install Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras by June 30. These cameras will automatically detect overage vehicles. In a public notice, Delhi’s transport department warned that vehicles flagged by the ANPR system, or identified by any other monitoring method, will be denied fuel and may face further legal action under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1989.
The department advised owners of such vehicles to either obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to take them outside the NCR or have them scrapped at a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF). A transport department official confirmed that the majority of ANPR camera installations had been completed, with only 10–15 fuel stations pending. Installations are being carried out at all petrol and CNG stations, covering approximately 400 petrol pumps and 160 CNG outlets across the city.
A representative of the Delhi Petrol Dealers’ Association acknowledged the government’s efforts but noted some logistical challenges. He explained that although cameras and speaker systems have been set up to announce the number plates of overage vehicles, the alerts often come too late—typically after the vehicle has already been refueled. He said a meeting with the transport department is planned to address these operational concerns.
The initiative is rooted in environmental directives, including a 2018 Supreme Court ruling that banned diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old in Delhi. Additionally, a 2014 order by the National Green Tribunal prohibits parking such vehicles in public spaces.
With inputs from PTI
