Delhi government urges CAQM to put fuel ban on overage vehicles on hold – ET Auto

The minister also detailed several pollution control measures initiated by the Delhi government, including a stricter Pollution Under Control (PUC) certification regime, particularly for vehicles from outside Delhi.

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The Delhi government has written to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), requesting an immediate suspension of the fuel ban on end-of-life (EOL) vehicles, citing significant technological and operational challenges in its implementation.

At a press conference on Thursday, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said there is growing public discontent over the ban, which came into effect on July 1, and asserted that the government stands with the affected vehicle owners. “We are trying to ensure that vehicles are not banned purely based on age, but rather on the pollution they cause,” he said.

Under the current regulation, fuel stations in Delhi are barred from supplying fuel to diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years that have been deregistered and are not legally permitted on roads, following court orders.

Sirsa said the Delhi government is exploring alternatives to this policy and has formally communicated its inability to implement CAQM’s directive, citing ongoing issues with the Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system installed at fuel stations.

A plea to CAQM

In his letter to the CAQM chairperson, Sirsa stated, “There are critical operational and infrastructural challenges that make it unfeasible to implement this order at this juncture.” He added that due to these technological inconsistencies and a lack of integration with NCR states, the system may even prove counterproductive.

The minister pointed out that although ANPR cameras have been installed at most petrol pumps, the system faces several glitches, including issues with camera placement, sensor and speaker malfunctions, and difficulty identifying vehicles without High Security Registration Plates (HSRP).

Additionally, he noted the lack of coordination with databases from neighbouring NCR cities such as Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad — areas from where owners of overage vehicles can still procure fuel without restriction. “The fuel ban in Delhi alone will not serve its intended purpose unless implemented uniformly across the entire NCR,” he said.

Sirsa highlighted that the ANPR system in these neighbouring regions is not yet functional, which could allow banned vehicles to bypass restrictions by refueling outside Delhi.

Several pollution control measures

The minister also detailed several pollution control measures initiated by the Delhi government, including a stricter Pollution Under Control (PUC) certification regime, particularly for vehicles from outside Delhi. He said a system is being developed to notify owners of aging vehicles 2-3 months in advance via SMS to help them prepare for the transition.

“We strongly urge the Commission to pause the implementation of Direction No. 89 until the ANPR system is fully integrated across the NCR,” Sirsa wrote.

He further criticised the previous AAP-led administration for not challenging the EOL vehicle ban in court or before the National Green Tribunal. “This enforcement could have been avoided had timely intervention been taken,” he said.

Since the fuel ban took effect, Delhi’s transport department and traffic police have begun impounding EOL vehicles found at fuel stations.