Delhi Bans Fuel for 10-Year Diesel, 15-Year Petrol Vehicles from July 1: All You Need to Know
Delhi Fuel Ban: Starting July 1, 2025, Delhi will no longer allow fuel refilling for End-of-Life (EoL) vehicles—which include diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. This strict step has been announced by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to combat rising pollution levels.
Fuel Ban to Be Enforced Using ANPR Cameras
To ensure compliance, over 500 fuel stations across Delhi are now equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras. These cameras automatically scan vehicle license plates as they enter the fuel station. The system then checks the vehicle details against the VAHAN database—which includes registration info, vehicle age, and fuel type.
If a vehicle is found to be beyond the permissible age limit, it will be flagged as End-of-Life (EoL). Once flagged, an automatic alert is sent to the fuel pump, and the vehicle will be denied fuel.
Expansion to NCR from November and 2026
CAQM member Dr. Virendra Sharma confirmed that this initiative is just the beginning. The same rule will be extended to:
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Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonipat from November 1, 2025
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Rest of the NCR region from April 1, 2026
Over 3.6 Crore Vehicles Scanned, 4.9 Lakh Flagged
So far, the ANPR system has scanned more than 3.63 crore vehicles in Delhi. Out of these, 4.90 lakh vehicles have been identified as End-of-Life. Dr. Sharma also highlighted that 29.52 lakh vehicles have renewed their Pollution Under Control Certificates (PUCC), resulting in challans worth ₹168 crore.
100 Enforcement Teams Deployed
To boost enforcement, the Delhi Transport Department has deployed 100 dedicated teams. These teams will monitor flagged vehicles, analyze fuel stations with the most EoL traffic, and ensure that the fuel ban is strictly followed.
Why This Step Matters
Old vehicles, especially those that don’t meet newer BS (Bharat Stage) emission standards, are a major source of air pollution in Delhi and the surrounding NCR region. By removing such vehicles from regular circulation, authorities aim to significantly improve air quality.
Dr. Sharma stated
It is very important to remove old BS standard vehicles to clean the air of Delhi and NCR. These vehicles play a big role in air pollution. With a transparent, digital and accountable system in place, this move will now extend even to toll centres to make enforcement more effective.”
What Happens If You Own an End-of-Life Vehicle?
If your vehicle is flagged as EoL:
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You won’t be able to refuel at Delhi petrol pumps.
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Your vehicle may be impounded or marked for scrapping.
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You could face fines and penalties.
How to Check If Your Vehicle Is Affected
Use the VAHAN portal to check your vehicle age and status. If your car is diesel and older than 10 years, or petrol and older than 15 years, you may fall under the EoL category.
Bottom Line
Delhi Fuel Ban: From July 1, Delhi residents must ensure that their vehicles comply with the age limits to avoid inconvenience. With digital surveillance, smart tracking, and strict enforcement, authorities are pushing for cleaner air and responsible vehicle usage across the city.
