New Delhi: Starting July 1, end-of-life (EOL) vehicles — diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years — will be denied fuel at petrol stations across Delhi, regardless of the state in which they are registered. The directive was issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in a bid to reduce vehicular pollution in the capital.

ANPR cameras for detection

The enforcement mechanism relies on Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras installed at fuel stations. Out of 520 fuel stations in Delhi, 500 have already been equipped with these cameras, and the remaining 20 will be covered by June 30.

These cameras will scan license plates and cross-check vehicle details with the VAHAN database, identifying vehicles that fall under the EOL category. Once detected, the system will send an alert to a command centre, and enforcement teams — comprising traffic police and transport department officials — will be dispatched to impound the vehicle.

NCR-wide rollout planned

The initiative will be expanded in phases:

From November 1, 2025, fuel denial for EOL vehicles will begin in five high-density NCR districts: Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonipat. ANPR camera installation in these areas is to be completed by October 31.

Other NCR districts have until March 31, 2026, to install ANPR cameras, with fuel denial starting April 1, 2026.

No exemption for non-Delhi vehicles

Speaking on the matter, Virinder Sharma, Member (Technical), CAQM, clarified that the directions apply to all EOL vehicles, not just those registered in Delhi. "Vehicles registered outside Delhi-NCR also ply on Delhi roads and contribute to pollution. That has to be deterred," he said.

EOL buses from other states will also be detected, though separate curbs will be introduced to regulate their movement in Delhi-NCR.

Massive number of old vehicles

According to CAQM, there are 62 lakh EOL vehicles in Delhi, of which 41 lakh are two-wheelers. Across the entire NCR, 44 lakh such vehicles exist, mostly concentrated in the five high-traffic districts.

Strict enforcement, legal action

CAQM has formed 100 enforcement teams to implement the rule. Any fuel station found violating the rule will face action under relevant laws.

Vehicles identified as EOL may also be subject to impounding and scrapping under the Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF) Rules. Owners have the option to obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) to use such vehicles outside Delhi.

Traffic surveillance systems and Integrated Command and Control Centres will also aid in real-time enforcement.

Compliance push after poor progress

The move comes in response to slow progress in removing polluting vehicles from the region, despite prior Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders. CAQM’s latest step is intended to tighten enforcement and reduce the significant pollution burden caused by old vehicles.