Delhi Bans Fuel: In an ambitious bid to fight air pollution, Delhi has brought a new regulation into force that halts fuel supply to aging vehicles. This regulation from July 1, 2025, represents a milestone step to phase out aging vehicles from urban roads. Officials have launched a stringent mechanism to implement it.

What is an End-of-Life (EoL) Vehicle?

The term “End-of-Life” applies to vehicles that have crossed their legal operational age limit. For petrol cars, this means 15 years, and for diesel cars, 10 years. Any vehicle older than these limits, regardless of condition, falls into this EoL category and is considered unfit for Delhi’s environment.

Fuel Pumps Will Now Deny Fuel to Old Vehicles

To implement the ban, Delhi will depend on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras placed at petrol pumps. These cameras read the number plate of the vehicle and match it with a government database to ascertain the age of the vehicle and the fuel type. In case the system identifies a vehicle as EoL, the pump will not provide service.

Expansion to NCR and Key Implementation Dates

  • This regulation will not only stay confined to Delhi. Other cities in the NCR will soon follow:
  • Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, Sonipat: From November 1, 2025
  • Rest of NCR areas: From April 1, 2026
  • Delhi took the lead, but before long, the whole of NCR will be working within the same model.

Stringent Monitoring Teams Already Deployed

To ensure fuel stations comply, Delhi’s Transport Department has deployed 100 special monitoring teams. These teams will inspect fuel pumps to verify they’re not serving EoL vehicles. Non-compliance may lead to penalties or other legal action against petrol pump operators.

Widespread Vehicle Screening Already Done

The authorities have already checked 3.63 crore vehicles through ANPR systems. Among them, 4.90 lakh have been officially labeled as EoL. At the same time, 29.52 lakh vehicles had their Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates renewed. The initiative has already collected ₹168 crore in fines, which indicates how strict the enforcement has turned.

What to Do If Your Vehicle Is Now Banned

If you have a vehicle in Delhi, verify your Registration Certificate (RC) at once. If your vehicle is in the EoL category:

  • Think of scrapping the vehicle
  • Get it registered outside NCR if still usable
  • Renew your PUC certificate urgently
  • Shift to public transport or begin planning for a replacement vehicle
  • Not following these steps may result in daily inconvenience and fines.

Why This Step Was Needed

The roads of Delhi are choked with old cars that cause intense air pollution. This is not merely about laws but also people’s health. By doing this, the government wants to purify the air, decrease emission caused by traffic, and ensure a secure environment for everyone.