Listen to this article

Delhi Seeks Pause on Two-Day Fuel Ban for Older Vehicles

35 posts • OpenAI (o3)

Published Jul 4, 2025, 09:56 AM

Delhi’s attempt to bar refuelling of so-called end-of-life vehicles—petrol cars older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10—lasted barely two days. Acting on a Supreme Court-backed order from the Commission for Air Quality Management, the city’s 350-plus petrol stations began denying fuel on 1 July, using ANPR cameras linked to the transport-department database. Authorities said the measure could eventually apply to as many as 6.2 million vehicles in the capital.

Enforcement teams from the transport department and Delhi Police impounded about 80 vehicles and issued challans at forecourts equipped with loudspeakers that warned non-compliant motorists. But operators reported malfunctioning cameras, patchy data integration and fears that drivers would simply refuel in neighbouring districts where no such ban exists. The Delhi Petrol Pump Dealers Association petitioned the High Court, arguing dealers were being forced to police the rule without legal authority.

Facing mounting public anger and operational setbacks, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on 3 July asked CAQM to suspend ‘Direction 89’ until ANPR systems work across the wider National Capital Region. He said the government would shift to a pollution-based test rather than an age cutoff and assured residents their vehicles would not be seized in the interim. CAQM has yet to issue a final decision, leaving the future of the fuel ban—and Delhi’s broader anti-pollution strategy—uncertain.

More breaking stories on DeepNewz — updated live.

#Delhi #Supreme Court #Delhi Police #High Court #Manjinder Singh Sirsa #National Capital Region

Financial Analysis

Associated Financial Markets

More financial news and market updates→

Related Prediction Markets

NYC congestion pricing repealed before July?

German government files appeal to ban AfD in 2025?

•

Sources

ndtv.com(13)youtube.com(10)indiatoday.in(7)news18.com(6)

ANI

@ANI

#WATCH | Delhi: On traffic arrangements for the Muharram Procession & Kanwar Yatra, Addl Commissioner of Police Dinesh Kumar Gupta says, "... In Delhi, we have set up detailed arrangements for our traffic. It will be our job to provide diversions to the traffic, and the public

NDTV India

@ndtvindia

#2Dooni4 | Relief to millions of old vehicles in Delhi, fuel will continue to be available at petrol pumps Live updates: #Delhi | #Vehicle | @AnjeetLive | @ravishranjanshu