Know the Details About Delhi Fuel Ban & Its NCR Rollout

The capital of India is getting serious this time to curb vehicle pollution, which is a major contributor to severe NCR air pollution. The July 2025 fuel ban on "end-of-life" vehicles is one major step towards a cleaner Delhi air.

Published On: 03/07/25
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News Highlights

"End of life" vehicles will be denied fuel at petrol pumps in Delhi (Phase 1)
ANPR cameras are tracking these end-of-life vehicles at fuel stations
Ban will expand to Gurugram, Noida, Faridabad, & other NCR cities by Nov 2025

The fuel ban is now live in Delhi, in which old petrol (15+ yrs) & diesel (10+ yrs) vehicles will be denied fuel at pumps. This move comes after years of severe pollution in the Delhi NCR.

The ban is going to be exercised in phases and will extend to all the NCR regions by 2026. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is responsible for monitoring and enforcing this fuel ban.

What is the Delhi Fuel Ban Exactly? (Details)

Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), with the support of the Delhi government, Delhi Police, and the Transport Department, has enforced this fuel ban. This ban refuses refuelling for the "end of life" vehicles in Delhi starting from 1st July, 2025. The vehicles banned from refuelling at petrol pumps/stations are:

Diesel vehicles (registered before July 3, 2015): If your diesel vehicle (car, truck, bus, or even a diesel two-wheeler) is more than 10 years old from its date of registration, it will no longer be able to get diesel at any fuel station in Delhi.

Petrol vehicles (registered before July 3, 2010): If your petrol vehicle (car, two-wheeler, etc.) is more than 15 years old from its date of registration, it will no longer be able to get petrol at any fuel station in Delhi.

This rule is applicable to other state vehicles, too. CNG, EVs, and other fuel vehicles are exempted from this ban for now.

Why did the Government Implement this Fuel Ban?

The primary reason for implementing this fuel ban is to combat severe air pollution in Delhi-NCR. Delhi consistently ranks among the most polluted cities in the world, especially during winter months, and vehicular emissions are a major contributor to this crisis.

This isn't a new idea. The ban is a direct consequence of long-standing directives. For example, the 2014 National Green Tribunal (NGT) order prohibited the plying of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years in Delhi-NCR.

The 2018 Supreme Court ruling upheld the NGT's decision and made it a legal mandate to remove these "end-of-life" (ELV) vehicles from Delhi's roads.

The ban also encourages the adoption of newer, more fuel-efficient vehicles like BS6, CNG, and electric vehicles (EVs).

Also Read: Nitin Gadkari Confirms No Toll Tax on 2-Wheelers Amid Rumors

How will the Government Track the Offenders of the Fuel Ban?

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras are the primary method that have been installed at over 350 petrol pumps across Delhi. These cameras automatically detect the "end-of-life" vehicles and alert the fuel pump attendants. Some pumps also have automated hooter alarm systems.

Fuel stations that violate these norms will be reported weekly to the CAQM and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and can face penalties under the Motor Vehicles Act.

Moreover, the Transport Department, Delhi Police (including Traffic Police), and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) have deployed joint enforcement teams at petrol pumps.

Owners of vehicles caught violating the ban can face fines (e.g., Rs. 10,000 for four-wheelers and Rs. 5,000 for two-wheelers) in addition to their vehicles being impounded. ANPR cameras are also planned to be installed at all 156 entry points to Delhi to track vehicles entering the city.