Tech Glitches Stall Delhi’s Pollution Fight: Old Vehicles Get a Temporary Reprieve

In a sudden policy reversal, Delhi and five surrounding NCR cities delayed the highly controversial fuel prohibition on polluting old cars to November 1, 2025, following widespread public outcry and technical problems scuttling the original July 1 launch.

 

Key Highlights

 

Ban Deferred: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has deferred the prohibition on end-of-life (EOL) vehicles—10-year-old diesel vehicles and 15-year-old petrol vehicles—across Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Noida (Gautam Budh Nagar), and Sonipat.

 

Cause of Delay: Severe technical issues with Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at filling stations, incomplete integration with vehicle databases, and operational loopholes forced authorities to postpone enforcement.

 

Public Backlash: The initiative was met with global outrage by car owners, politicians, and trade associations, who argued on economic grounds, emotional grounds, and infrastructural grounds for opposing it.

 

Uniform Rollout: The prohibition is now uniformly enforced in all six cities from November 1, 2025. Complete NCR-wide implementation will be in April 2026.

 

What's Banned: No fuel will be provided to diesel vehicles above 10 years and petrol vehicles above 15 years of age, regardless of the registration state, from November 1. Non-BS-VI commercial vehicles will also be banned.

 

Tech Upgrades: The authorities are moving swiftly to implement ANPR cameras in all fuel stations in the affected zones by October 31. The system will automatically alert ineligible vehicles from the central VAHAN database.

 

Legal and Political Storm: Delhi High Court is considering pleas against the ban, and the Delhi government and Lieutenant Governor have called for a more balanced approach towards environmental and social concerns.

 

Next Steps: Drivers must meet the deadline by October 31, with strict enforcement and potential car impoundment ensuing thereafter. Delhi's war against pollution continues but in the meantime, lakhs of owners of cars and bikes are given temporary respite as the city scrambles to mend its technology and restore people's faith.

 

Source: Times of India, Hindustan Times, NDTV