New Delhi: The Delhi government has raised concerns over the ongoing fuel ban on overage vehicles, terming it technologically unfeasible and complex in execution. In a letter to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the administration requested reconsideration of the enforcement strategy, citing implementation bottlenecks.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that public discontent is rising over the move and the government stands in support of residents affected by the blanket ban.
Sirsa urged the Centre and CAQM to implement a uniform policy across the National Capital Region (NCR) rather than singling out Delhi. He also criticized the previous AAP-led regime for imposing what he called “over-stringent norms” on end-of-life vehicles (ELVs), without considering practical difficulties in enforcement.
आज दिल्ली की सड़कों पर खड़ी END-of-Life Vehicles की समस्या, किसी और की नहीं, बल्कि आम आदमी पार्टी की वर्षों की नाकामी और निकम्मेपन का नतीजा है।
— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) July 2, 2025
यह दुर्भाग्यपूर्ण है कि जिसकी जिम्मेदारी थी समय रहते समाधान की योजना बनाने और अमल करने की, वही सरकार सोती रही। अब जब संकट सिर पर है, तो… pic.twitter.com/NBW5k7I5jA
The fuel ban, in effect since July 1, prohibits refuelling of diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old that have been deregistered and are not permitted on roads under court orders.
As part of enforcement, the Delhi Transport Department along with traffic police have begun impounding ELVs found at fuel stations attempting to refill.
“The policy needs fine-tuning. We cannot let technical inefficiencies burden ordinary citizens. The rules must apply uniformly across NCR,” Sirsa asserted.
