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Starting July 1, petrol pumps across Delhi will stop dispensing fuel to end-of-life (EoL) vehicles as per the directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The Delhi government’s Transport Department, in coordination with the Delhi Police, Traffic Police and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), has chalked out a detailed enforcement strategy to ensure strict compliance.

In a major move to curb vehicular emissions, enforcement squads will be deployed citywide from Tuesday. "Our traffic personnel will ensure that the vehicle is impounded and a challan is issued to the owner of the ELVs (end-of-life vehicles)," a senior police officer told PTI.

According to officials, the Transport Department has finalised its deployment blueprint. MCD teams will assist at fuel stations, while Delhi Police personnel will be stationed at pumps numbered 1 to 100. Simultaneously, 59 exclusive teams from the Transport Department will oversee enforcement at fuel stations numbered 101 to 159.

In total, one traffic police officer will be stationed at each of the 350 identified fuel stations to monitor and prevent the refuelling of vehicles that have exceeded their allowed lifespan — 10 years for diesel vehicles and 15 years for petrol ones.

To avoid disruptions during the enforcement drive, authorities have decided to post two additional police personnel at each petrol pump. "Two police personnel will maintain law and order. No one will be allowed to breach law and order during the drive," the officer added.

The decision aligns with CAQM’s broader objective to reduce vehicular pollution and improve Delhi's air quality. The 2018 Supreme Court ruling had already banned diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in the capital.

The Delhi government issued Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) on June 17, mandating strict compliance from fuel stations. Under the new rules, pumps must deny fuel to EoL vehicles and maintain a log either manual or digital  of such denied transactions.

The SOP also states: "Maintain a log (manual or digital) of denial transactions to End of Life Vehicles for reporting on a weekly basis to the Transport Department at transport.delhi.gov.in."

Fuel stations are required to put up clear signage: "Fuel will not be dispensed to End of Life Vehicles — i.e. 15 years old Petrol and CNG and 10 years old Diesel 01.07.2025."

Any petrol pump found violating these norms will be reported weekly to the CAQM and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. Legal action, including penalties under Section 192 of the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988, may be initiated against non-compliant operators.

Officials clarified that the prohibition applies to all EoL vehicles, irrespective of the state in which they are registered. Authorities have also been instructed to impound and dispose of such vehicles immediately.

This drive also aligns with the 2014 National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, which prohibits the parking of vehicles older than 15 years in public places across the city.

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