Supreme Court Mandates Fuel-Type Hologram Stickers for All NCR Vehicles

The Supreme Court has made it mandatory for all vehicles operating in the National Capital Region (NCR) (which includes Noida and Gurugram) to display hologram-based stickers indicating their fuel type. The ruling, issued on Monday, restricts vehicle-related services for non-compliant vehicles, including PUC certification, ownership transfers, and address changes.

This decision strengthens a 2018 directive that introduced a colour-coding system: light blue stickers for petrol/CNG vehicles, orange for diesel vehicles, and green for electric vehicles. While the initial order was voluntary, the new ruling makes compliance mandatory.

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According to data from the Union Ministry of Road, Transport and Highways, approximately 95 per cent of vehicles registered after April 2019 in Delhi and neighbouring states already comply with the high-security registration plate (HSRP) requirement, including the hologram-based stickers. However, only 30 per cent of vehicles registered before April 2019 currently display these mandatory stickers. The system aims to identify these vehicles and restrict their movement for using poor-quality fuel in the region.

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The latest decision will also act as a step forward to curb pollution levels in the Delhi-NCR. With air quality levels reaching “Very Poor” standards every now and then, the need has come for a permanent solution. Despite implementing GRAP-IV restrictions, and using water guns in select parts of the cities, there has been no respite from the unhealthy air quality that Delhi-NCR has been experiencing for several years now. While the new mandatory hologram policy might restrict the movement of vehicles using poor-quality fuel, there still remains the need for a permanent solution that will help improve air quality levels.