- By PTI
- Sun, 18 May 2025 09:40 PM (IST)
- Source:PTI
Starting 1st July 2025, vehicles older than the legal age limit will no longer be allowed to refuel at petrol and CNG stations across Delhi. The Delhi government has taken this strict step to reduce pollution and enforce environmental regulations more effectively. Special Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed at most fuel stations to automatically identify vehicles that are too old to be on the road.
According to the Transport Department, the camera installation process is nearly complete, with only about 10 to 15 petrol stations left to cover. These high-tech systems will flag diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, as per the existing law. Once identified, these vehicles will be denied fuel, and the owners may face further legal action under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1989.
The move comes after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directed the Delhi government to enforce the fuel ban on all End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles from July 1st. This includes not only banning their use but also preventing them from refuelling within the city limits. All fuel stations must have functional ANPR systems in place by 30th June to ensure full compliance.
The Transport Department has also issued a final call to the owners of such vehicles. They are being asked to either transfer their vehicle registration to cities where older vehicles are still allowed or scrap them at authorised centres. Those who fail to do either risk having their vehicle seized by the authorities.
Meanwhile, some technical issues have been reported by the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association. They claim that although ANPR cameras and speaker systems are in place, in many cases, the number plate is detected only after fuel has already been dispensed. A meeting with the transport department is scheduled this week to resolve these concerns.
This initiative follows previous legal rulings. In 2018, the Supreme Court banned 10-year-old diesel and 15-year-old petrol vehicles from operating in Delhi. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) had also issued a 2014 order restricting the parking of vehicles older than 15 years in public areas.
With this new measure, Delhi aims to curb air pollution by strictly enforcing rules against ageing, polluting vehicles — beginning right at the fuel stations.
(Disclaimer: Except for the headline, this article has not been edited by Jagran English and has been published through syndicated feed by PTI.)
