Old Vehicles Barred from Refuelling in Delhi
In a significant step towards curbing air pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has ordered a complete fuel ban for diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi, starting July 1. The move applies to all such vehicles—whether registered in Delhi or outside—and is aimed at discouraging loopholes often used to bypass state-specific environmental laws.
ANPR Camera Network to Enforce Fuel Ban
Delhi is deploying Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at 500+ fuel stations across the city to implement this rule. These cameras will scan vehicle number plates and verify their age through the VAHAN database. Vehicles flagged as too old will trigger an alert, prompting enforcement teams to take action. Fuel stations are prohibited from serving flagged vehicles, and violators—both drivers and stations—may face legal action, including vehicle impoundment or scrapping under the RVSF Rules.
NCR Rollout to Follow from November
After Delhi, five NCR cities—Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonipat—will implement the same fuel restrictions from November 1. These cities must install ANPR systems by October 31. Other NCR regions have until March 2026 to comply, with enforcement beginning in April 2026. With nearly 62 lakh old vehicles in Delhi alone, this is one of the most aggressive steps to reduce vehicular pollution in the capital region.
