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CAQM defers fuel ban for end-of-life vehicles in Delhi-NCR to Nov
Following its 24th full Commission meeting held on Monday, CAQM announced that enforcement will now begin on November 1, 2025, in Delhi and five high vehicle density districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonipat. The remainder of the NCR will see implementation from April 1, 2026.
The amendment was driven by the Government of NCT Delhi (GNCTD)'s concerns about the operational readiness of the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system — a key tool for detecting EoL vehicles at fuel stations. According to a July 3 2025 letter from GNCTD, the system currently suffers from a range of issues, including technological glitches, poor camera placement, and sensor malfunctions.
It was also noted that the system has not been fully integrated with neighbouring NCR states' databases, making it difficult to identify vehicles with incomplete or missing High Security Registration Plates (HSRP).
GNCTD flags legal, operational concerns
GNCTD officials had argued that enforcing a fuel ban solely within Delhi would be counterproductive and legally problematic, especially when the same vehicles remain roadworthy in neighbouring jurisdictions. They cautioned that such selective implementation could drive illegal fuel purchases from adjacent districts, thereby undermining the policy's effectiveness and fostering a black market.
Citing Section 59 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, GNCTD's Chief Secretary warned against defining EoL status based purely on vehicle age, without considering actual emission levels, usage, or mechanical condition.
Unified roll-out across NCR
To address these concerns, CAQM decided to adopt a staggered enforcement strategy. 'All EoL vehicles identified through the ANPR cameras or other such systems installed at the fuel pump stations shall be denied fueling,' the Commission said, adding that the roll-out will occur in two phases — November 2025 for Delhi and key NCR districts, and April 2026 for the rest of the region.
This approach is intended to provide authorities with additional time to strengthen the ANPR system, standardise enforcement protocols across jurisdictions, and ensure all stakeholders — including fuel stations — are adequately prepared.
The Transport Departments of NCR states and GNCTD have been directed to expedite the trial and training for the ANPR system, ensure timely manpower deployment, and report monthly progress to the Commission. They are also required to raise awareness among stakeholders and strictly enforce the revised timelines.
CAQM emphasised that EoL vehicles, once identified, must face appropriate legal action — including impounding — regardless of whether they are caught via ANPR systems, manual checks, or any other mechanism.
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Hindustan Times
43 minutes ago
- Hindustan Times
CAQM defers ELV fuel ban to Nov 1, expands it to NCR
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas on Tuesday amended its order banning the refuelling of end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in Delhi, deferring its implementation to November 1. The decision comes just a week after the directive took effect, following strong objections from the Delhi government over apparent technical challenges and legal inconsistencies. The fuel ban will now be rolled out simultaneously in five other high-vehicle-density NCR districts. (Sunil Ghosh/HT Photo) The fuel ban—initially enforced in Delhi alone—will now be rolled out simultaneously in five other high-vehicle-density NCR districts: Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonipat. The rest of NCR will follow from April 1, 2026. The changes were made during CAQM's 24th general meeting with representatives of all NCR states in attendance. The reversal came after the Delhi government last week requested the direction be put on hold, citing operational difficulties in enforcement and lack of coordination among NCR states. In its revised order, CAQM acknowledged 'technical glitches' in Delhi's Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system, including sensor failures, poor camera placement, and integration issues with vehicle databases across NCR. '[The Delhi government] … has brought to the attention of the commission some operational and infrastructural challenges … stating that while it is fully aligned with the commission's objective to phase out older, polluting vehicles… the ANPR system lacks the requisite robustness, with issues related to technological glitches, camera placement, working of sensors and speakers, and that the system is not yet fully integrated with the database of NCR states,' CAQM said in a statement on Tuesday. It added that Delhi officials had argued that restricting the ban to the city would simply push fuel purchases across the border into neighbouring towns, undermining the measure's intent. 'The commission, in view of the concerns raised by Delhi government, and after detailed deliberation of all issues raised … has decided to partially amend [the direction],' the statement said. CAQM also said that the Delhi chief secretary flagged legal ambiguities in enforcing ELV thresholds locally while identical vehicles remain legal in the rest of the nation, calling it a violation of equitable treatment under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. The chief secretary in his letter also questioned the criteria for defining ELVs, stating aspects such as vehicle fitness, actual emission performance, or usage were not being considered, adding this was adding to the hardship of the middle class. However, CAQM reiterated that ELVs—diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol ones older than 15—remain illegal in Delhi-NCR under National Green Tribunal (NGT) and Supreme Court orders. 'It is pertinent to mention that while ELVs are deregistered… and they cease to have any legal sanctity… and must be impounded once identified, regardless of detection method,' the commission said. The Delhi government, which welcomed the extension, also plans to approach the Supreme Court to seek a review of the age-based ELV ban, chief minister Rekha Gupta had said on Sunday. The government has argued that scrappage should be linked to actual emissions, not arbitrary age limits. Gupta, speaking Sunday, criticised the one-city rollout. 'Delhi cannot have different ELV rules than the rest of the country,' she said. Delhi environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa echoed the position, saying that the extension will provide a big relief to Delhi residents. 'We are glad CAQM has understood the ground realities. The relief till November will allow us time to push for a more rational emissions-based policy. We will also approach the SC and NGT with data and studies to support our case. The 80,000 vehicles scrapped under the AAP regime were done without a scrapping unit in Delhi. We will investigate where they were scrapped and expose any scam.' CAQM's original directive had seen patchy enforcement. On day one, ANPR cameras flagged 98 ELVs; 80 were impounded. But the momentum fizzled—only seven were seized the next day, and none thereafter. The revised timeline was also welcomed by fuel dealers. Nishchal Singhania, president of the Delhi Petrol Dealers Association, said, 'This buys us time to fix technical issues, prepare citizens, and ensure uniform enforcement across NCR. Otherwise, fuel sales in Delhi would've suffered, with people refuelling across the border.' The decision also sparked political sparring. Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Atishi accused the BJP-led Delhi government of staging a drama. 'Writing to CAQM—another BJP-controlled body—was just theatrics. If the BJP is serious, let them pass a law protecting 10-year-old vehicles. We'll support it. Else it proves their nexus with scrappers and vehicle dealers,' she said. Delhi BJP president Virender Sachdeva hit back: 'Atishi and Kejriwal sat on this issue for a decade. Their failure to challenge the NGT ban forced us to act. Calling our SC appeal a 'drama' only shows the AAP's anarchic mindset.' The Motor Vehicles Act, which governs vehicle scrappage norms, allows for exemptions based on roadworthiness and emissions. Delhi's current blanket ban on older vehicles—regardless of condition—has been criticised by experts as unfair to the middle class, especially when other cities allow such vehicles with fitness certificates. [MAYBE ADD EXPERT COMMENT?]
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Business Standard
2 hours ago
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Delhi govt welcomes CAQM relief on vehicle ban, CM lauds decision
The Delhi government on Tuesday welcomed the Centre for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) decision to defer the implementation of the fuel ban on overage vehicles until November 1. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the "commendable decision" taken in public interest reflects a balanced and humane approach towards environmental concerns and citizens' livelihoods. "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," the chief minister said in a post in Hindi on X. She said the Delhi government will use the time given by CAQM to provide further relief to residents and work collaboratively toward a long-term and 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 added. Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa lauded 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. The Centre's panel on air quality in Delhi-NCR on Tuesday decided to put on hold the implementation of the fuel ban on end-of-life (EOL) or overage vehicles in the national capital until November 1. EOL vehicles are diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. According to directions issued earlier, such vehicles are not to be given fuel in Delhi from July 1, irrespective of the states they are registered in. Sirsa had last week requested the CAQM to withhold action against such vehicles, calling the move "premature and potentially counterproductive", citing "operational and infrastructural challenges". Reiterating the government's commitment to improving air quality in the capital, the minister said the fight against pollution will continue, but vehicle bans must be guided by science and data rather than arbitrary age limits. "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. He also raised serious concerns over the scrapping of nearly 80,000 vehicles during 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. Additionally, fuel stations in Delhi have installed Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras to detect EOL vehicles. The camera reads the number plate of vehicles entering fuel stations and instantly checks with the central VAHAN database, which shows details like the vehicle's age, fuel type and registration. If the vehicle is found to be EOL, the system alerts the fuel station staff not to refuel it. The violation is recorded and sent to enforcement agencies, who are then required to take action such as impounding and scrapping the vehicle. However, public discontent and outcry over the move prompted the Delhi government to request the CAQM to halt the implementation of the move. The installation of ANPR cameras in the five high-density districts is to be completed by October 31.
News18
2 hours ago
- News18
Overage Vehicle Fuel Ban To Be Enforced From November 1 In Delhi-NCR
Delhi government lifted the ban on older diesel and petrol vehicles but will prohibit fuel supply to these vehicles starting November 1, as per sources. Days after the Delhi government lifted the ban on diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said that fuel supply to these vehicles will be prohibited starting November 1 this year. The CAQM amended its earlier Direction No. 89, postponing the implementation of the 'No Fuel" policy. The revised order will now be enforced not just in Delhi but also across five key National Capital Region (NCR) areas- Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Sonipat. Delhi's Fuel Ban Policy The Delhi government launched a major anti-pollution campaign on July 1 targeting so-called 'end-of-life vehicles". Under the original plan, petrol pumps were instructed not to dispense fuel to diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. The campaign relied on automated camera systems at fuelling stations to detect vehicle age and traffic police were given powers to impound or issue challans to violators. The initiative was spearheaded by the CAQM as part of broader efforts to control worsening air quality in the capital region. However, the move triggered strong backlash from vehicle owners following which Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced the lifting of the ban and hinted that the government would work on a more balanced system to manage older vehicles. Earlier, Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena formally intervened by writing to Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, urging the government to put the ban on hold. In his letter, VK Saxena expressed concern over the policy's impact on common people, writing, 'It would be unfair to impound their cars and scrap them even if they have run just a few thousand kilometres." While the immediate enforcement has been deferred, officials confirmed that the policy will be implemented from November 1, with Delhi and NCR as the key enforcement zones. Senior CAQM officials maintained that the policy is crucial to curbing vehicular emissions in Delhi but agreed to delay its implementation after discussions with the Environment Secretary and following VK Saxena's letter. The government is now expected to engage in further consultations to develop a more phased and citizen-friendly enforcement strategy even as preparations continue for full-scale rollout later this year, sources said. view comments First Published: July 08, 2025, 19:40 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
