66 lakh old vehicles deregistered, but on-road numbers surge

As of March 19, 2026, the total number of motor vehicles on Delhi’s roads stood at 87.6 lakh.

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Delhi govt has deregistered over 66.2 lakh old vehicles in the city till March 19, 2026, following the ban on diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, according to the Economic Survey 2025-26. The move, aligned with NGT directions, has significantly reshaped the vehicle population in the national capital, according to senior officials.

The survey states that the large-scale deregistration was carried out as these vehicles had crossed their permissible age limits and were considered major contributors to vehicular pollution. Despite this massive removal of old vehicles, the overall number of motor vehicles in Delhi continues to rise.

As of March 19, 2026, the total number of motor vehicles on Delhi’s roads stood at 87.6 lakh, registering a growth of 7.9 per cent compared to nearly 81.2 lakh in 2024-25. This indicates that while older vehicles are being phased out, new registrations continue to outpace removals, reflecting sustained demand for personal mobility, said an official.

A closer look at the composition of vehicles shows that two-wheelers dominate Delhi’s roads. Motorcycles and scooters account for nearly 68 per cent of the total registered vehicles, making them the most common mode of transport in Delhi. Cars and jeeps form about 24 per cent of the total vehicle population, indicating a significant but smaller share compared to two-wheelers.

Survey data also highlights fluctuations in vehicle growth trends in recent years. After a steady rise in total vehicles from 2016-17 to 2020-21, the numbers saw a sharp dip in 2021-22, primarily due to the impact of Covid and deregistration of overage vehicles. The total vehicle count dropped to about 79.2 lakh that year, reflecting a negative growth rate.

However, the numbers gradually recovered in subsequent years, with moderate growth recorded in 2022-23 and 2023-24, followed by a slight decline in 2024-25, before rebounding strongly in 2025-26.

Another key indicator of rising motorisation is the number of vehicles per 1,000 population, which has increased to 522 in 2025-26 from 484 in the previous year. This marks a significant rise in vehicle density, underscoring growing dependence on private transport in the city.

Category-wise trends reveal that while cars and two-wheelers continue to dominate, other segments, such as goods vehicles and passenger vehicles, have also shown steady growth. Meanwhile, categories like buses and taxis have witnessed relatively lower numbers, indicating limited expansion in public and shared transport segments compared to private vehicles.