Delhi govt seeks stay on fuel ban for older vehicles, writes to CAQM

The Delhi government on Thursday rolled back a contentious order denying fuel to 'end of life' cars - the term for petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa told reporters a fuel ban such as this is difficult to enforce -due to 'technological challenges and complex sytems - 'and said a system to seize poorly-maintained vehicles, instead of punishing people who take care of their cars and motorcycles, is being worked out. "We will not let Delhi's environment be harmed, nor will we permit the confiscation of vehicles owned by its residents," Sirsa said. He blamed previous the AAP government for not implemented the order. Sirsa urged the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to hold its directions mandating a ban on fuel sales to end-of-life vehicles (ELVs) in the capital.

आज दिल्ली की सड़कों पर खड़ी END-of-Life Vehicles की समस्या, किसी और की नहीं, बल्कि आम आदमी पार्टी की वर्षों की नाकामी और निकम्मेपन का नतीजा है।

यह दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है कि जिसकी जिम्मेदारी थी समय रहते समाधान की योजना बनाने और अमल करने की, वही सरकार सोती रही। अब जब संकट सिर पर है, तो… pic.twitter.com/NBW5k7I5jA

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) July 2, 2025

The CAQM issued directions to fuel stations in April, saying no end-of-life vehicles should be given fuel from July 1. End-of-life (EOL) vehicles included diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. The ban applies to all ELVs – Delhi-registered or not.The current policy stems from a 2018 Supreme Court ruling that bans diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi, and a 2014 NGT order prohibiting parking of vehicles older than 15 years in public spaces.

The 'no fuel' order triggered furious reactions from people whose cars and/or bikes may be older than the prescribed limit but are still running efficiently and at minimum levels of pollution, and have the Pollution Under Control Certificate, or PUCC, mandated by the government. Over 62 lakh vehicles - including 41 lakh two-wheelers and 18 lakh four-wheelers, cars, trucks, and vintage automobiles - had been affected by the CAQM order, which acted based on data stating vehicles are among Delhi's top polluters.