Has Delhi Banned Fuel for Old Vehicles Starting Today?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Delhi government enforces fuel ban on old vehicles.
- Vehicles exceeding 10 years for diesel and 15 years for petrol will be affected.
- Hefty fines imposed for violations.
- AI technology will assist in identifying outdated vehicles.
- Seizure of EOL vehicles parked in public spaces starts today.
New Delhi, July 1 (NationPress) In a significant initiative to tackle vehicular pollution, the Delhi government has commenced the enforcement of stringent regulations on End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles starting today.
According to directives from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), all fuel stations within the National Capital Territory (NCT) will refuse fuel sales to older vehicles identified using AI-driven Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.
Beginning today, EOL vehicles—those surpassing the legal age limits of 10 years for diesel and 15 years for petrol—will be restricted from refueling at any petrol or diesel outlets. Such vehicles could also incur substantial fines if detected in public areas.
Owners of four-wheelers caught breaching this regulation will face a fine of Rs 10,000, while two-wheeler owners will be penalized Rs 5,000.
AI-enabled cameras installed at fuel stations will automatically detect outdated vehicles through their license plate numbers. Once flagged, these vehicles will be barred from receiving fuel.
Petrol pump operators are cautiously optimistic regarding this implementation. Sanjay Dedha, a petrol station manager in Vivek Vihar, commented, “The Delhi government has launched this system. We will observe from today whether these vehicles appear. If there are any server issues, we will manually identify old vehicles and deny them petrol or diesel.”
Supervisor Ram Lagan Shukla from Bharat Petroleum in Lal Kuan stated, “Effective from the 1st of the month, vehicles older than 15 years will not receive petrol here. We will verify the vehicle's condition and its documentation.”
This new enforcement strategy is part of a comprehensive plan aimed at lowering emissions and enhancing air quality in the capital, which regularly ranks among the most polluted cities worldwide.
Authorities have also declared that EOL vehicles parked in public spaces or near fuel stations will be seized starting today.
Vehicle owners in Delhi are encouraged to check their registration status and refrain from using outdated vehicles to avoid penalties and confiscation.