Why in News?

Facing backlash over the fuel ban for old vehicles, the Delhi Government announced that end-of-life vehicles will not be impounded. Environment Minister of Delhi said a new system for handling old vehicles is being planned.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) directive to remove end-of-life vehicles from roads is based on long-standing court orders and serious environmental concerns.

What’s in Today’s Article?

• Delhi’s Fuel Ban for Old Vehicles
• Delhi Government Flags Premature Implementation
• Why Older Vehicles Are a Concern
• NGT’s 2015 Ban on Old Vehicles
• Effectiveness of Such Measures in Dealing with Delhi’s Bad Air Problem

Delhi’s Fuel Ban for Old Vehicles

• Starting July 1, diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old are denied fuel at Delhi’s fuel stations under the CAQM directive.
  • In April 2025, the CAQM directed a phased denial of fuel to ELVs at fuel stations in the NCR:
    • in Delhi from July 1,
    • in high-density NCR districts from November 1, and
    • in the rest of the NCR from April 1, 2026.
• Real-Time Enforcement with ANPR Technology
• 498 fuel stations and 3 ISBTs now have Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.
• These scan vehicle plates and cross-check with the VAHAN database.
• If identified as an End-of-Life Vehicle (ELV), an audio alert is triggered, and fuel is denied.
• Enforcement and Penalties
  • ELVs may be impounded and scrapped unless valid exemptions or documents are shown.
  • Enforcement teams include the Transport Department, Traffic Police, and civic bodies.

Delhi Government Flags Premature Implementation

• Delhi Environment Minister, in a letter to CAQM, called the immediate enforcement of the fuel ban “premature and potentially counterproductive”.
• The Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system is facing multiple issues:
  • Camera misplacement
  • Non-functional sensors and speakers
  • Inability to detect ELVs due to HSRP-related issues
• The system lacks integration with vehicle databases of adjoining NCR districts, making it easy for vehicle owners to bypass the ban by refueling in nearby areas.
• Due to these technological and operational issues, the public is facing inconvenience, leading to widespread discontent and backlash.

Why Older Vehicles Are a Concern

• Authorities say pre-BS-VI vehicles significantly contribute to air pollution, even if maintained well.
  • BS-IV vehicles emit 4.5 to 5.5 times more particulate matter than BS-VI vehicles.
  • BS-VI norms became mandatory from April 1, 2020, setting stricter emission standards.
• Transport sector accounts for: 28% of PM2.5; 41% of SO₂; 78% of NOx emissions. CAQM highlights transport as a key driver of Delhi’s air pollution.
• While legal mandates for banning overage vehicles existed since 2015, lack of technology delayed enforcement.

NGT’s 2015 Ban on Old Vehicles

• In 2015, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) banned - Diesel vehicles older than 10 years; Petrol vehicles older than 15 years - from operating or being registered in Delhi-NCR.
• In 2018, the Supreme Court upheld the NGT’s directive and ordered that violating vehicles must be impounded.
• New Scrapping Rules Reinforce Mandate
  • In 2023, Delhi framed guidelines under the Motor Vehicles Act and Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) Rules.
  • The Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025, effective April 1, mandate scrapping within 180 days of a vehicle’s registration expiry.
• Legal Basis Under Motor Vehicles Act
  • Motor Vehicles Act, 1988: Registration for non-transport vehicles valid for 15 years, renewable thereafter.
  • Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1999: After expiry, a vehicle is no longer considered validly registered.

Effectiveness of Such Measures in Dealing with Delhi’s Bad Air Problem

• Experts agree that no single measure, including the fuel ban for old vehicles, can fully resolve Delhi’s severe air quality crisis.
• The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) cautions that age caps aren’t scalable nationwide and older vehicles aren’t the only polluters.
• Poor maintenance can make even newer vehicles highly polluting.
• Multi-Pronged Approach Needed
  • CSE advocates a comprehensive strategy, including:
    • Upgrading fuel and emission standards
    • Strict Pollution-Under-Control (PUC) enforcement
    • Major expansion of public transport