No Fuel For End-Of-Life Petrol And Diesel Vehicles In Delhi From July 1

To combat the air pollution levels in the city, Delhi’s Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has announced a new rule that end-of-life vehicles will not be provided fuel from July 1. Any petrol vehicle older than 15 years or a diesel vehicle older than 10 years will not be given fuel, irrespective of the state in which it is registered.

To enforce this rule, Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras have been set up at 500 out of 520 fuel stations in Delhi with the rest aiming to be completed by the end of the month. The CAQM has informed every fuel station of the ruling and is likely to be strictly enforced.

This might be quite a drastic measure to curb pollution, but one that might be necessary for a city as polluted and choked as Delhi. The AQI levels are atrocious in some months of the year with health hazards rising every single year.

While the move is welcomed, there still remains ambiguity and concern for travellers. Firstly, does the law still apply for those who have re-registered their vehicles and received their clearance certificates in states outside of Delhi is something that needs clarification. Also, what happens to tourist vehicles, cabs and other such commercial vehicles that might not be necessarily plying their trade in Delhi but pass through it. More updates on the matter are expected to be shared soon.