In a major step towards combating vehicular pollution, the Delhi government has begun enforcing strict new rules on End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles from Tuesday.
According to directives issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), all petrol pumps across the National Capital Territory (NCT) will deny fuel to old vehicles identified through AI-powered Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras.
From Tuesday onwards, EOL vehicles—those that have exceeded the legal age limit of 10 years for diesel and 15 years for petrol—will not be allowed to refuel at petrol or diesel stations. These vehicles will also be liable for heavy fines if found in public places.
Four-wheeler owners violating the rule will be fined Rs 10,000, while two-wheeler owners will face a penalty of Rs 5,000.
AI-enabled cameras installed at petrol stations will automatically identify outdated vehicles using number plate data. Once recognised, these vehicles will be flagged in the system to prevent fuel issuance.
Petrol pump operators have expressed cautious optimism about the implementation. Sanjay Dedha, manager of a petrol pump in Vivek Vihar, said, “The Delhi government has installed the system. Let’s see from today if vehicles in that category turn up. We are waiting to see if the system works properly. If there are any server-related issues, we will physically identify old vehicles and refuse fuel to them.”
Ram Lagan Shukla, supervisor at Bharat Petroleum, Lal Kuan, said, “It has come into effect from today, the first of the month, that petrol vehicles over 15 years old will not be given fuel here. We will also check the vehicle’s condition and documents.”
The new enforcement policy is part of a broader plan to reduce emissions and improve air quality in the capital, which frequently ranks among the world’s most polluted cities.
Authorities have also announced that EOL vehicles found parked in public places or near fuel stations will be seized starting Tuesday.
Vehicle owners in Delhi are advised to verify the registration status of their vehicles and avoid using outdated vehicles to prevent penalties and seizure.
— IANS
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