Delhi Enforces Fuel Ban on Old Vehicles to Tackle Pollution

ANPR Cameras to Deny Fuel to End-of-Life Vehicles; Heavy Fines and Seizures Begin

In a decisive move to curb vehicular pollution, the Delhi government has started strict enforcement of new rules against End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles from Tuesday, July 1. The crackdown follows directives from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) aimed at improving the National Capital’s air quality, which remains among the worst globally.

Under the new rules, petrol pumps across Delhi will deny fuel to vehicles that have exceeded their legal age limit—10 years for diesel and 15 years for petrol. This restriction is being enforced using AI-powered Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras installed at fuel stations. These cameras identify outdated vehicles and automatically flag them, preventing the issuance of petrol or diesel.

Violators will face significant penalties. Owners of outdated four-wheelers will be fined ₹10,000, while two-wheeler owners will incur a ₹5,000 penalty. Authorities have also confirmed that vehicles violating these norms and found parked in public areas or near fuel stations will be seized.

Petrol station operators have responded with cautious optimism. Sanjay Dedha, manager of a petrol pump in Vivek Vihar, stated, “The system has been installed by the Delhi government. We’re waiting to see how smoothly it operates. If there are server issues, we’ll manually verify and deny fuel to old vehicles.”

Ram Lagan Shukla, supervisor at Bharat Petroleum in Lal Kuan, added, “From today, petrol will not be issued to vehicles over 15 years old. We’ll also check documents and the physical condition of the vehicle.”

This enforcement is part of a larger strategy by Delhi authorities to reduce emissions and promote a cleaner, safer environment. Officials have advised residents to verify their vehicle registration status and avoid using outdated vehicles to prevent fines or impoundment.

The measure reflects the capital’s continued push toward sustainable urban mobility and public health safety, as the city fights persistent air quality challenges.