Delhi ramps up crackdown on overage vehicles at fuel stations

Time of India

15 hours ago

New Delhi: Banners flapped, loudspeakers announced numbers, squads in uniform watched closely, and cameras quietly scanned number plates — even before people stepped out of their cars.
On Tuesday, as teams began enforcing the restrictions on fuel distribution to outdated vehicles, the scene played out like clockwork at several stations.
The vehicles rolled in and the cameras instantly read the plate, just as challan cameras do, and if it was a 10-year-old diesel or a 15-year-old petrol car, a voice from the speaker immediately flagged it. The fuel staff gently refused petrol, and within moments, traffic police, transport department officials, and local cops approached, ask for RC, and if the vehicle was indeed overdue, impounded it.
The mood at the pumps was part tense, part curious, and in places, dramatic. For instance, at a fuel station next to Lodhi Hotel in south Delhi, a car belonging to another state's police department was impounded after being flagged. "It was a smooth process," said traffic inspector Sanjeev Kumar. "The minute the car was read, we asked for the RCs and found it overage. The scrapper was called and the vehicle will now be sent to the yard.
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A similar scene played out in Tughlaq Road Circle, where a car belonging to army personnel heading out of Delhi was impounded while refuelling. This car was also from another state. Officials said if the owners request to take them back out of Delhi, standard procedure will be followed.
Two-wheelers weren't far behind. At the Lodhi Hotel station, Jaiveer and Fukran watched helplessly as their bikes were taken away.
"This was all I had," Jaiveer said, his voice cracking. "I bought it second-hand in April for Rs 15,000. I sell kulcha-chole on a thela — how am I supposed to drag that around now? I didn't even know this was a rule. They should've given us some time."
Fukran, whose bike carried a UP plate, added, "In my town, I got a five-year extension. I had no clue Delhi had a separate law. But what can one do now?"
While many saw action from the get-go, some pumps witnessed only a trickle of flagged vehicles.
At a few stations, enforcement setups weren't fully functional — in some, cameras worked but speakers did not.
Alka Sahni, owner of Bharat Petroleum pump at Connaught Place, highlighted the absence of a speaker system to announce incoming vehicles exceeding the age limit. "I visited another pump to see how they operate under the new guidelines. At this station, the speaker is yet to be installed. Although the ANPR camera is in place, it's too technical for the workers to operate.
I have complained thrice to Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation.
They have promised they will install the speaker soon," she said.
At the National Service Station in Connaught Place, where all equipment, including ANPR cameras, a speaker and informational banners, was installed, supervisor Mukesh Singh pointed out the absence of police personnel. "An officer visited but left within five minutes.
Even though no banned vehicles have been recorded yet, police presence should be maintained," he said.
At others, especially those outside the official list of 400 monitored stations, there were no checks at all. Vehicles — expired or not — continued to refuel as usual.
At several pumps, enforcement teams had a dull day as no overaged vehicle appeared. At a pump in Ashram, a 15-year-old Mercedes was seized, along with several two-wheelers.
Enforcement teams at pumps like Ghazipur border and Mayur Vihar did not report any violations. Jai Veer, head constable, transport enforcement, deployed at Ghazipur pump, said, "I think people with overaged cars are avoiding visiting pumps."
Nischal Singhnaia, president, Delhi Petrol Dealers' Association, said, "Limited vehicles have been detected, and we have noted speakers were not present at some pumps. There are also concerns about camera placement. At my pump's location, a car travelling on the service road was incorrectly flagged as exceeding the speed limit."
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