Delhi Bans Fuel Supply to End-of-Life Vehicles from July 1
In a significant effort to combat vehicular pollution, the Delhi government has instituted a complete ban on fuel for end-of-life (EoL) vehicles, following directives from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). This ban will take effect on July 1, 2025. According to this mandate, petrol pumps across the city are prohibited from supplying fuel to diesel vehicles that are older than 10 years and petrol vehicles that are older than 15 years.
Enforcement of this ban will be overseen by joint teams from the Delhi Transport Department, Delhi Police, Traffic Police, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). A total of 350 petrol pumps have been designated for strict monitoring, with Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras installed to identify and block banned vehicles.
To ensure compliance, the Delhi government issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on June 17. Fuel stations are required to keep a manual or digital log of denied transactions involving EoL vehicles. Additionally, staff must be trained in these new guidelines, and all stations must display clear signage indicating that vehicles exceeding the age limits will not be refueled.
“Two police personnel will be stationed at every fuel station to maintain law and order,” stated a senior police officer, adding that on-site impounding and fines will be issued to violators.
Fuel stations that do not comply may face penalties under Section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act. The Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation (DTIDC) will supervise the ANPR systems to ensure real-time enforcement of this initiative.
This action is in line with previous rulings from the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which banned older vehicles in Delhi to improve air quality. Officials believe that this initiative will considerably reduce vehicular emissions and improve the capital’s worsening air quality.
