Delhi fuel ban put on hold? — Government writes to CAQM

A fuel ban had been put in place for diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years across fuel stations in Delhi from July 1, 2025. The Government of Delhi has now written to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), requesting to put the ban on hold citing technological issues amidst other concerns. Read more about the Delhi fuel ban and the latest updates around it here.

Background

Following the NGT’s decade-old directive and the Supreme Court’s 2018 judgement banning the plying and parking of ‘end-of-life’ vehicles in Delhi-NCR, a ban on refuelling such vehicles was put into effect four days back, wherein such vehicles. Police teams along with special purpose cameras had been installed at over 300 fuel stations across Delhi to facilitate this enforcement, and many vehicles were also impounded by the authorities.

Check This Out: Delhi fuel ban: No petrol to 15+ years old and no diesel to 10+ years old vehicles!

Request to hold

Manjinder Singh Sirsa, Minister for Environment, Forest and Wild Life of Delhi, has written an application to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), asking for the fuel ban to be put on hold. He has cited issues such as technological gaps in the Automated Number Plate Recognition system, and a ‘need for holistic approach’ as reasons for this request. He has further said that the Delhi Government is undertaking other comprehensive measures such as planting trees, strengthening the PUC regime, and mandating the installation of anti-smog guns on high-rise commercial buildings, in order to curb pollution.

Also Read: Is it the end of the diesel era?

Uncertainty

While this might bring temporary relief to vehicle owners, there is still a wave of uncertainty around what could happen in the near future. While the Government will no longer allow the confiscation of such vehicles, their usage on the streets of Delhi remains suspended. 

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