From Julyβ―1,β―2025, Delhi has begun implementing a strict ban on refueling end-of-life (EoL) vehiclesβdefined as petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles over 10 yearsβat all fuel stations across the National Capital Territory.
π§Ύ Delhi Fuel Ban – Scope
- Affected vehicles: Petrol cars >15 years, diesel cars >10 years.
- Scale: Around 6.2 million vehicles affected across Delhi and NCR.
- Implementation date: Effective from 6β―am, Julyβ―1, 2025.
π Enforcement Measures
- Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR): Installed at ~350 petrol stations across Delhi to identify old vehicles in real-time.
- Deployment of officials: Oversight by Delhi Police at the top 100 busy stations, Transport Dept teams at 59 stations, plus MCD and Traffic Police staff at the rest.
- Compliance SOP: Petrol pump staff must log denied refueling instances and display mandatory signage warning “Fuel will not be dispensed to EndβofβLife Vehicles”. Petrol pump staff has been trained for this.
π¨ Penalties & Vehicle Towing
- Fines: βΉ10,000 for four-wheelers; βΉ5,000 for two-wheelers caught refueling.
- Impoundment & Scrapping: Vehicles attempting to refuel or parked in public spaces will be seized and scrapped per regulations.
- Public spaces included: Enforcement extends to apartments and private parking lotsβonly vehicles wholly inside a home are exempt.
π Expansion Across NCR
- Next phase: Similar ban to begin on Nov 1,β―2025 for Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Noida, etc.
- Final rollout: Extended to the entire NCR by April 1,β―2026.
π Why It Matters for Air Quality
- Vehicles >50% of Delhiβs local pollution: Overaged vehicles are major contributors to smog and poor air quality.
- Legal basis: Builds on a 2018 Supreme Court order and 2014 NGT rulingβreinforcing Delhiβs ongoing efforts to clean its air.
β Delhi Fuel ban – What Owners Must Do
Owners of affected vehicles have three main options:
- Sell/transfer the vehicle outside Delhi with an NOC.
- Convert to approved EV kit (in future phases).
- Scrap it at an authorized scrap facility for possible incentives under government schemes.
π Delhi Fuel Ban – Bottom Line
Effective Julyβ―1, 2025, Delhi has banned fuel for old petrol (15+ years) and diesel (10+ years) vehicles city-wide as part of its aggressive anti-pollution efforts. With ANPR surveillance and strict penalties, the policy is now being systematically enforced. The phase extends to NCR cities soon. Affected owners should act quickly – sell, convert, or scrap their vehicles to comply and avoid fines.
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