Fuel Ban On End-Of-Life Vehicles In Delhi-NCR Deferred To November 1; Policy To Roll Out In 5 Key Districts

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has decided to delay the enforcement of the fuel ban on End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles in Delhi until 1 November 2025, sources confirmed on Tuesday. The decision comes in response to concerns raised by the Delhi government over technical and logistical hurdles, including incomplete ANPR (Automated Number Plate Recognition) infrastructure.

Earlier, CAQM had directed that from 1 July, no fuel should be provided to diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years within the national capital, regardless of their state of registration.

Implementation to Begin Across NCR on November 1

According to sources, the revised plan will now be rolled out simultaneously in Delhi and five major adjoining NCR districts—Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar (Noida), and Sonipat—starting 1 November 2025. The decision was taken at a key meeting of CAQM held earlier today.

A source said, “The no-fuel policy for EOL vehicles will now be enforced across Delhi and neighbouring cities as demanded by the Delhi government.”

Officials said the enforcement was temporarily paused to address operational challenges and ensure smooth implementation across the NCR.

Delhi Government Cites Tech Limitations, Seeks Uniform Policy

The Delhi government, during the meeting, argued that the ANPR cameras installed at fuel stations in the capital were not functioning optimally. According to sources present at the meeting, the Secretary of Delhi’s Environment Department highlighted detection issues and stressed the need for a coordinated rollout across the NCR.

He reportedly argued that “if the directive is enforced only in Delhi, owners of old vehicles could simply refuel in neighbouring states, defeating the purpose of the fuel restriction aimed at reducing pollution.”

As a result, the CAQM has granted Delhi three additional months to fix technical shortcomings in its detection systems. The deadline for full readiness has been set for 31 October 2025.

Cameras to Flag EOL Vehicles at Fuel Stations

Fuel pumps in Delhi have already been equipped with ANPR cameras. These devices scan the number plates of incoming vehicles and check their details against the central VAHAN database. If a vehicle is flagged as overage, the system alerts fuel station staff to deny service. Details of such violations are passed on to enforcement agencies for further action, which may include impounding or scrapping of the vehicle.

However, growing public dissatisfaction prompted Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa to request CAQM last week to postpone implementation. He described the move as premature and “potentially counterproductive”, citing ongoing infrastructural constraints.

The installation of ANPR systems across the five high-density NCR districts is expected to be completed by 31 October 2025, setting the stage for the region-wide policy enforcement from November.

(With PTI Inputs)

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