Fuel ban on old vehicles begins amid tight security
The Delhi Government on Tuesday began enforcing its ban on the sale of fuel to old vehicles across the national capital in a major move aimed at curbing air pollution.
The enforcement, carried out under high security, saw the installation of automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras at nearly 350 petrol pumps to detect end-of-life vehicles (ELVs).
As per the regulation, petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years are now barred from refueling at any petrol station within Delhi limits. The drive, which kicked off at 6 am, led to impounding of 24 vehicles, including 19 two-wheelers, one three-wheeler, and four four-wheelers, by 1 pm.
Several enforcement teams from the Transport Department, Delhi Police, Traffic Police and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) were deployed at several petrol stations, particularly in South Delhi. At Dhingra petrol pump in Chirag Delhi, authorities were seen stationed from early morning to prevent old vehicles from refueling.
“We are here since 6 am to ensure no old vehicle is allowed to take fuel. Petrol pumps have been clearly instructed to deny fuel to such vehicles,” said Sub-Inspector Dharamveer from the Transport Enforcement team. He said ANPR cameras were supported by AI-based hooter systems that immediately alert staff upon detecting an outdated vehicle.
Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic), Ajay Choudhary, confirmed the deployment across all fuel stations, stating: “As per the Supreme Court’s order, from today, no diesel or petrol will be provided to vehicles that are over 10 or 15 years old, respectively. All petrol pumps are under enforcement surveillance.”
Though implementation challenges still remain, Nishchal Singhaniya, president of the Petrol Pump Association, said, “Some pumps still lack functioning speaker systems, and police personnel are not present everywhere, causing issues.”
The move follows a 2018 Supreme Court order banning diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi. A National Green Tribunal (NGT) order from 2014 had also prohibited the parking of such vehicles in public places.
While the government has justified the step as necessary to tackle Delhi’s worsening air quality, political reactions have been sharply divided.
Dr. Naresh Kumar, senior spokesperson for the Delhi Pradesh Congress Committee, called the fuel ban a “conspiracy against public interest.” He alleged a nexus between the government and automobile manufacturers, claiming the push to scrap operational vehicles is designed to promote new vehicle sales at the cost of common citizens.
“Despite advances in emission standards from BS-II to BS-VI, vehicles are being declared scrap prematurely. This is irrational and unjust,” he said.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj also criticised the move, questioning the implementation method. “Couldn’t there have been another way to stop old vehicles,” he said, taking aim at the BJP. He said seizing vehicles at petrol pumps would lead to physical altercations between employees and vehicle owners.
Delhi