Delhi Government Likely To Limit How Many Petrol Or Diesel Cars Your Family Can Own In Order To Reduce Pollution

India’s capital city is struggling for fresh air. In order to curb rising air pollution, the Delhi government is looking for possible solutions. The latest initiative being proposed to limit the number of petrol or diesel vehicles one household can own. Moreover, authorities are also planning to possibly ban ICE motorcycles and scooters in the national capital, with reports stating that 2027 will be the year when the ban will take place. 

This proposal comes barely days after the new EV policy was proposed, which suggested removal of certain local taxes when buying hybrid vehicles to encourage sales. At the same time, it also added that a new tax of 0.50 paise would be added to each litre of petrol sold in the city, as per the 74-page draft.

Delhi introduced its first electric vehicle policy in 2020, which helped increase electric vehicles to 12 per cent of all new vehicle sales in 2024, including both bikes and cars. In the second phase, the policy document states that no new petrol, diesel or gas-powered two-wheelers can be sold after 1 April 2027. The government is also offering cash incentives of up to ₹29,000 for people who buy electric bikes and scooters.

(Also Read: Existing Delhi EV Policy Extended, Govt Confirms No Ban For Two-Wheelers & Autorickshaws)

But the latest proposal needs a rethink as it might just be a bit too drastic for many. Two-wheelers have always been an essential transport for millions of Delhi residents. If the proposed ban does come into effect,these changes could seriously affect lower and middle-income groups who rely on bikes rather than cars to travel through the city's busy streets.

As per Reuters, nearly 4,50,000 new scooters and bikes were sold in Delhi in 2024. The city had 8 million vehicles on its roads in 2022-23, with two-wheelers making up 67 per cent of those vehicles. Banning petrol-powered two-wheelers from 2027 will also negatively impact manufacturers like Bajaj, TVS and Hero MotoCorp, which heavily rely on ICE vehicles for their sales.

(Also Read: Launch of Delhi's Electric Bus Service Under DEVI Scheme Postponed)

For wealthier residents, the policy will limit each household to owning just two ICE-powered cars. The city aims to have 30 per cent of vehicles be electric by 2030, up from about 2.7 per cent last year – which is quite the aggressive target. The draft states that car owners in Delhi will need to choose EVs if they want to have a third or additional car registered at the same home address.

The policy is expected to cost the Delhi government ₹286 billion. It is still in the proposed stages, with suggestions from car manufacturers and other interested parties yet to be taken into consideration.