More Stories

Informist, Thursday, Jul. 3, 2025

--Delhi govt: Urged air quality panel to halt fuel norm on end-of-life vehicle 

--Delhi minister: Facing tech issues in denying fuel to end-of-life vehicles 

NEW DELHI - Following the backlash over ban on refuelling of end-of-life vehicles, the Delhi government on Thursday wrote to the Commission of Air Quality Management to put on hold with immediate effect the direction that mandates denial of fuel to petrol cars older than 15 years and diesel cars older than 10 years in Delhi. "...This direction was scheduled to begin on 1st of July, 2025 and implementation of this direction has revealed certain issues that must be addressed before these directions are fully implemented," Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa wrote in the letter.

The minister stated that the implementation of the direction is not feasible due to several critical operational and infrastructural challenges. He further stated that the automatic number plate recognition system has not been integrated with National Capital Region's databases. The system is unable to identify end-of-life vehicles where there are issues related to high security number plates, he said.

"While Automated Number Plate Recognition cameras have been installed at most of the fuel stations, the system lacks the requisite robustness required from such a crucial system. There are crucial issues related to technological glitches, camera placement. sensors not working, speakers not functioning, etc.," said the letter.

"A stage-wise implementation that begins only in Delhi will not serve its intended purpose. It is highly likely to lead to vehicle owners procuring fuel from adjacent districts like Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, thereby circumventing the ban and potentially fostering an illegal cross-border market for fuel, which would further exacerbate the problem," the letter said.  End

The Commission of Air Quality Management's order is meant to curb vehicular pollution in the national capital, that experiences toxic smog, especially during the winter months and suffers poor air quality for most part of the year.  End

Reported by Kuldeep Singh

Edited by Vandana Hingorani

For users of real-time market data terminals, Informist news is available exclusively on the NSE Cogencis WorkStation.

Cogencis news is now Informist news. This follows the acquisition of Cogencis Information Services Ltd by NSE Data & Analytics Ltd, a 100% subsidiary of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd. As a part of the transaction, the news department of Cogencis has been sold to Informist Media Pvt Ltd.

Informist Media Tel +91 (11) 4220-1000

Send comments to feedback@informistmedia.com

© Informist Media Pvt. Ltd. 2025. All rights reserved.