Supreme Court Enforces Ban on 10-Year-Old Diesel and 15-Year-Old Petrol Vehicles in Delhi-NCR

The Delhi government is implementing an 'Impulse System' at petrol pumps to identify end-of-life vehicles (those older than 15 years for petrol and 10 years for diesel). Additionally, Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems will be used at fuel stations to deny refueling to these vehicles starting from November 2025. This system aims to effectively enforce the ban on high-polluting vehicles in the region.

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) categorizes air quality into four stages: Stage 1 (Poor, AQI 201-300), Stage 2 (Very Poor, AQI 301-400), Stage 3 (Severe, AQI 401-450), and Stage 4 (Severe Plus, AQI above 450). Each stage imposes stricter restrictions on vehicle usage and other activities to combat pollution. The implementation of GRAP aims to rapidly address air quality deterioration in Delhi-NCR.

Under the current regulations, individuals found operating restricted vehicles can face significant fines. For example, driving a BS-3 petrol or BS-4 diesel vehicle in Delhi can incur fines up to Rs 20,000. Additionally, vehicles lacking a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate can result in a fine of Rs 10,000. These penalties are part of the effort to enforce pollution control measures effectively.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revealed in an RTI response that it has not conducted any specific research on the pollution impact of diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. Instead, the restrictions are based on directives from the National Green Tribunal and Supreme Court, reflecting a broader policy approach rather than empirical evidence.

In addition to vehicle bans, the Delhi government is exploring cloud seeding to induce artificial rain as a measure to combat high pollution levels. This plan aims to temporarily alleviate severe air quality issues during peak pollution periods. The government is also enhancing public transportation with more buses, including electric options, to reduce reliance on personal vehicles.