Delhi Government Delays Fuel Ban on Older Vehicles Until November 1
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The Delhi government on Tuesday applauded the Centre for Air Quality Management ’s (CAQM) move to delay the fuel ban on overage vehicles until November 1.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described the decision as “commendable,” noting that it strikes a thoughtful balance between safeguarding the environment and protecting citizens’ livelihoods.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, in a post in Hindi on X, said, "The CAQM issuing revised guidelines on the request of the Delhi government is an important and commendable decision that has been taken keeping in mind the public interest. The government welcomes this,"
She added that the Delhi government will utilise the extended timeline to offer further relief to citizens and collaborate on developing a long-term, practical solution.
"As much as it is necessary to protect the environment, it is equally important that no decision affects the livelihood and dignity of common citizens," she said.
Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa praised the CAQM’s decision, calling it a “major relief” for the people of the city.
"After our request, CAQM has shown sensitivity towards the concerns of the people. This is a big relief for Delhiites," he said.
On Tuesday, the Centre’s air quality panel for Delhi-NCR announced a deferment of the fuel ban on end-of-life (EOL) or overage vehicles in the capital until November 1.
Delhi residents can breathe a little easier-at least for now. The Centre for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has agreed to postpone the controversial fuel ban on End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles in the national capital until November 1, following a request from the Delhi government.
What Are EOL Vehicles?
EOL vehicles include diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, regardless of where they’re registered. According to earlier orders, these vehicles were to be denied fuel in Delhi starting July 1.
Delhi Government Pushes Back
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa had urged CAQM to delay the implementation, calling the move"premature and potentially counterproductive", citing "operational and infrastructural challenges". He cited the lack of infrastructure and readiness on the ground, especially in terms of scrapping facilities and enforcement mechanisms.
Sirsa reiterated the government’s dedication to fighting pollution but argued that age alone shouldn't determine a vehicle's fate.
"Polluting vehicles must be banned, but not just because they are old. We will conduct proper studies to assess actual pollution levels and will approach the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) with our findings. Any policy must be based on emission data, not age," he said.
A Missing Scrappage Trail
Sirsa also raised concerns about nearly 80,000 vehicles reportedly scrapped under the previous administration. "There is no proper scrapping facility in Delhi. We want to know where those vehicles went. A thorough inquiry will be initiated into this," he said.
The government has now set a new deadline-October 31-for completing ANPR installation across the five high-density districts of Delhi.
For now, older vehicles get a temporary reprieve, but with tech-backed monitoring and a data-driven approach on the horizon, a more permanent solution is already in motion.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta described the decision as “commendable,” noting that it strikes a thoughtful balance between safeguarding the environment and protecting citizens’ livelihoods.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, in a post in Hindi on X, said, "The CAQM issuing revised guidelines on the request of the Delhi government is an important and commendable decision that has been taken keeping in mind the public interest. The government welcomes this,"
She added that the Delhi government will utilise the extended timeline to offer further relief to citizens and collaborate on developing a long-term, practical solution.
"As much as it is necessary to protect the environment, it is equally important that no decision affects the livelihood and dignity of common citizens," she said.
Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa praised the CAQM’s decision, calling it a “major relief” for the people of the city.
"After our request, CAQM has shown sensitivity towards the concerns of the people. This is a big relief for Delhiites," he said.
On Tuesday, the Centre’s air quality panel for Delhi-NCR announced a deferment of the fuel ban on end-of-life (EOL) or overage vehicles in the capital until November 1.
Delhi Gets Temporary Relief from Fuel Ban on Old Vehicles: What’s Next?
Delhi residents can breathe a little easier-at least for now. The Centre for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has agreed to postpone the controversial fuel ban on End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles in the national capital until November 1, following a request from the Delhi government.
What Are EOL Vehicles?
EOL vehicles include diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, regardless of where they’re registered. According to earlier orders, these vehicles were to be denied fuel in Delhi starting July 1. Delhi Government Pushes Back
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa had urged CAQM to delay the implementation, calling the move"premature and potentially counterproductive", citing "operational and infrastructural challenges". He cited the lack of infrastructure and readiness on the ground, especially in terms of scrapping facilities and enforcement mechanisms. Sirsa reiterated the government’s dedication to fighting pollution but argued that age alone shouldn't determine a vehicle's fate.
"Polluting vehicles must be banned, but not just because they are old. We will conduct proper studies to assess actual pollution levels and will approach the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT) with our findings. Any policy must be based on emission data, not age," he said.
A Missing Scrappage Trail
Sirsa also raised concerns about nearly 80,000 vehicles reportedly scrapped under the previous administration. "There is no proper scrapping facility in Delhi. We want to know where those vehicles went. A thorough inquiry will be initiated into this," he said. Tech Meets Enforcement
Fuel stations across Delhi have begun installing Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to track EOL vehicles. These cameras scan a vehicle’s number plate, cross-check it with the central VAHAN database, and flag it if it’s overage. If flagged, fuel station staff are alerted not to refuel the vehicle. The violation is also logged and sent to authorities for action such as impounding or scrapping.The government has now set a new deadline-October 31-for completing ANPR installation across the five high-density districts of Delhi.
The Road Ahead
While the fuel ban is on hold, it’s not off the table. The Delhi government is using the time to prepare better, study real pollution data, and push for policies that are both environmentally sound and logistically feasible.For now, older vehicles get a temporary reprieve, but with tech-backed monitoring and a data-driven approach on the horizon, a more permanent solution is already in motion.
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