The Delhi government has requested the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to temporarily halt the enforcement of its directive banning fuel to End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has cited critical operational barriers and technological shortcomings that hinder smooth implementation.
The now-paused directive—Direction No. 89—was set to deny fuel at petrol stations to EOL vehicles across Delhi starting July 1. However, the government’s letter to the CAQM highlights inadequate Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) infrastructure, a lack of integration with NCR databases, and fears of illegal cross-border fuel procurement.
“Until ANPR systems are installed and integrated across NCR uniformly, a phased rollout will only cause confusion and give rise to fuel black markets,” the letter stated.
Notably, BJP MP Parvesh Verma also raised objections, arguing that the rule overlooks the actual pollution levels of vehicles and should not be based solely on age. “If such regulations are not enforced in Noida and Gurugram, their effectiveness in Delhi alone is questionable,” he said.
The Delhi Petrol Dealers Association has taken the matter to the High Court, challenging the legality of obligating fuel vendors to enforce such bans without formal authority. The case is currently under judicial consideration.
With public backlash and legal queries mounting, the Delhi government has assured that a revised, technology-supported, and NCR-wide policy will soon be unveiled. Until then, enforcement remains on hold—a reprieve for vehicle owners, but a signal for more cohesive and technology-driven environmental policy in the future.
