Delhi Enforces Ban On Refuelling Old Vehicles, 350 Petrol Pumps Under Scanner

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed that all end-of-life vehicles be denied fuel, and a detailed plan has been put in place to ensure compliance.

Petrol pumps are told to deny fuel to old vehicles in Delhi.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: In a decisive move to curb rising pollution levels, Delhi has begun enforcing a strict ban on the refuelling of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15, effective from July 1. The capital’s 350 petrol pumps have now become key checkpoints in implementing this policy aimed at removing End of Life (EoL) vehicles from the streets.

The directive, issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), is being executed in collaboration with the Delhi Transport Department, Delhi Police, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Teams have been deployed across fuel stations to monitor and penalise violators in real-time.

To streamline enforcement, the capital has been divided into strategic zones. The 100 petrol stations with the highest number of EoL vehicles are under close watch by the Delhi Police. Transport Department officials will supervise 59 stations, while 91 high-sensitivity sites will be jointly monitored by both. The remaining 100 locations will be covered by MCD teams.

Penalties for Non-Compliance

Adding to the policy’s impact, the Delhi government has mandated petrol stations to put up visible signage: “Fuel will not be dispensed to End of Life Vehicles — i.e. 15 years old Petrol and CNG and 10 years old Diesel 01.07.2025.” Fuel attendants have been instructed to log each refused transaction, with petrol pumps liable to face penalties under Section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act for any breach. Weekly compliance reports must be submitted to both CAQM and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas.

Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems have been deployed and will be maintained by the Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation (DTIDC). These systems will track vehicles in real time, ensuring adherence to the refuelling ban.

According to the VAHAAN database, Delhi currently hosts nearly 62 lakh EoL vehicles, including over 41 lakh two-wheelers and 18 lakh four-wheelers. Additionally, the NCR regions of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan contribute approximately 46 lakh EoL vehicles to the total.

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