The Delhi government on Thursday urged the Centre’s air quality panel to immediately suspend the newly enforced fuel ban on overaged vehicles, admitting it is unfeasible due to technological glitches, operational hurdles, and widespread public discontent.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, in a letter to Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) chairman Rajesh Verma, stated the ban—effective since July 1—cannot be implemented at this stage, highlighting problems with automated number plate recognition (ANPR) systems at fuel stations. He noted camera malfunctions, sensor issues, and difficulties identifying vehicles lacking high-security registration plates.
Addressing reporters, Sirsa said lakhs of citizens’ daily lives and livelihoods depend on these vehicles, and the sudden fuel denial has severely disrupted transport, trade, and personal mobility. He stressed the government’s intent to base restrictions on actual emissions rather than vehicle age alone.
Sirsa argued that since NCR cities like Gurugram and Ghaziabad don’t have similar bans, Delhi-only restrictions are ineffective, as owners can simply refuel across borders, rendering the effort futile.
The minister said the Delhi government plans to create an SMS-based alert system, notifying owners of overage vehicles 2-3 months in advance to prepare for a phase-out, and called on CAQM to put the ban on hold until a unified NCR-wide system is implemented.
He also blamed the previous AAP administration for enforcing the overage vehicle ban instead of challenging it in court, while the AAP responded by calling the suspension a “victory of the people” and accusing the BJP of double standards.
The controversy stems from a 2018 Supreme Court ruling banning diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, and a 2014 National Green Tribunal order prohibiting parking of vehicles over 15 years old in public spaces.
Meanwhile, the Delhi government highlighted its other anti-pollution initiatives, including a revamped Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate regime, but reiterated that without seamless NCR integration, the current fuel ban is unworkable.
