Daijiworld Media Network- New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 24: In a decisive move to tackle vehicular pollution, the Delhi government will enforce a complete halt on the sale of fuel to End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs) from July 1, 2025, following directives issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

This landmark regulation, aimed at curbing emissions from aged vehicles, will extend to other NCR regions in a phased manner — Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonepat from November 1, and the rest of NCR from April 1, 2026.

Under the initiative, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras installed at fuel stations will scan vehicles as they enter. These are linked to the mParivahan database, which will instantly identify petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles over 10 years — as classified under the 2015 National Green Tribunal (NGT) order, upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018.

Once flagged, the fuel pump operator will receive an alert, and fuel will be denied to such vehicles.

According to officials, 485 of Delhi’s 500 fuel stations have already been fitted with ANPR cameras, with full coverage expected soon.

The CAQM also announced restrictions on commercial vehicle entry into Delhi. From November 1, 2025, only BS-VI compliant, CNG, LNG, and ILV commercial vehicles registered in Delhi will be allowed entry. However, non-BS-IV transport vehicles carrying essential goods will be temporarily permitted until October 31, 2026.

“Assessment studies confirm that light, medium, and heavy goods vehicles with pre-BS-VI standards contribute significantly to pollution in NCR. These measures are crucial to reduce the vehicular pollution load across the region,” a CAQM official stated.

The CAQM has also mandated the Delhi Transport Department and Police to submit quarterly progress reports, ensuring strict implementation of these measures.