From April 1, 2025, vehicles older than 15 years will be denied fuel at petrol pumps across Delhi, as part of new pollution control measures announced by the Delhi government. This decision was confirmed by Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa during a meeting with Environment Department officials on Saturday.
New Restrictions for Old Vehicles
The measure is aimed at reinforcing the existing ban on petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years in Delhi and parts of the NCR. These vehicles are categorized as end-of-life vehicles and are prohibited from operating in the city. Owners, however, may still sell them in other states after obtaining a No-Objection Certificate (NOC).
Sirsa stated, “We have decided to stop giving fuel to vehicles older than 15 years after March 31, 2025. A team will be identifying such vehicles.”
AI Technology to Enforce Ban
A senior Delhi government official revealed that several petrol pumps in the city have already installed AI-enabled cameras to enforce pollution control rules. Currently, these cameras detect vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, ensuring that fuel is denied to them.
Authorities are now working on upgrading this technology to detect vehicle age, which will help in implementing the new rule. Petrol pumps that lack these devices will soon have them installed.
Additional Anti-Pollution Measures
Apart from restrictions on fuel supply, the Delhi government has introduced other measures to tackle pollution:
• Mandatory anti-smog guns for all high-rise buildings, hotels, and commercial complexes.
• Identification of large polluting organisations and strict monitoring using advanced technology.
• Expansion of green cover through a plantation drive involving Delhi University students.
• Development of new forests on barren land.
Shift to Electric Public Transport
The government also plans to phase out 90% of CNG public transport buses by December 2025 and replace them with electric buses. By 2026, 11,000 buses, including 8,000 e-buses, will be in operation. Sirsa confirmed that the procurement of 3,680 e-buses will be completed by September 2024, encouraging more people to switch to public transport. At present, Delhi operates 7,600 public buses, including 2,002 e-buses.
Political Accusations Over Pollution Control
During the meeting, Sirsa criticized the previous AAP government, accusing it of neglecting pollution control efforts and failing to utilize allocated funds.
“We investigated pollution-related diseases and solutions, but the last government took no action. They were given thousands of crores, but the funds remained unused,” he alleged.
The meeting, which lasted over three hours, focused on three main pollution sources:
1. Dust pollution
2. Vehicle pollution
3. Construction pollution
What’s Next?
With the new fuel ban and other anti-pollution measures set to take effect, Delhi residents with older vehicles will need to consider alternatives before March 31, 2025. The government’s push for electric transport and stricter pollution monitoring signals a significant shift towards cleaner mobility in the capital.
With inputs from agencies
Image Source: Multiple agencies
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