In a bold move to curb rising air pollution levels in the national capital, the Delhi government is gearing up to fully implement its “no fuel for overage vehicles” policy by the end of April. The initiative, which involves denying petrol and diesel to vehicles beyond a certain age, is being rolled out with the help of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras installed at fuel refilling stations across the city.
So far, 477 of Delhi’s 500 fuel stations—372 petrol pumps and 105 CNG outlets—have been equipped with ANPR-enabled cameras. Only 23 stations remain, and installation is expected to be completed within the next 10 to 15 days, according to a senior environment department official.
Aim: Cleaner Air, Safer Environment
The policy targets two main categories:
- Diesel vehicles older than 10 years
- Petrol vehicles older than 15 years
The initiative is in line with a 2018 Supreme Court ruling and a 2014 National Green Tribunal (NGT) directive, both of which restrict the use and parking of overage vehicles in the city to reduce air pollution.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Chief Minister Rekha Gupta are overseeing the final phase of the rollout. The government had initially planned to launch the policy on April 1 but postponed it to ensure 100% implementation.
“We don’t want a half-baked launch. Our goal is total enforcement across the city. Once all fuel stations are equipped with the necessary technology, we will roll out the policy citywide,” said Sirsa.
How the System Works
The ANPR cameras will scan the license plates of vehicles entering fuel stations and determine their registration year. If a vehicle exceeds the allowed age limit or lacks a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, the system will immediately alert the pump staff to deny refueling.
The initiative is part of a broader strategy by the Delhi government to improve air quality and reduce vehicular emissions, one of the largest contributors to pollution in the capital.
Guidelines for End-of-Life Vehicles
To support the policy, the government has also released updated guidelines in 2024 regarding end-of-life vehicles. Owners of such vehicles will need to either:
- Move them to private property, or
- Transfer registration to another state (with appropriate approvals), in order to retrieve impounded vehicles.
What’s Next?
Once all 500 fuel stations are onboard with ANPR technology, the Delhi government will officially enforce the policy. Residents are advised to check the age of their vehicles and ensure compliance with pollution norms to avoid being turned away at fuel stations.
Sources By Agencies
