Delhi Government Pauses Fuel Ban For Old Vehicles Amid Public Opposition

The Delhi government has chosen to temporarily halt the fuel ban on older cars after meeting major public resistance and having technical problems with enforcement methods. The policy, which came into force on July 1, targets petrol cars older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years, classifying them as "end-of-life" vehicles under air pollution control measures.

Over 62 lakh vehicles across Delhi were expected to be impacted by this order, including cars, two-wheelers, trucks, and vintage models. The police relied on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras placed at 498 fuel stops, linked to a central database to identify and block filling of targeted cars.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa accepted the limits of current technology, noting system glitches, non-functional sensors, and failure to properly identify High-Security Registration Plates given after April 2019. Public outcry increased on social media, with vehicle owners claiming that well-maintained older vehicles, including expensive models, were being wrongly labeled without considering real emissions performance.

The government now plans a more focused method, focusing on finding and removing only poorly-maintained or high-emission cars while accepting real Pollution Under Control Certificates.

Source: MotorBeam