From July 1, 2025, Delhi fuel stations will stop refuelling diesel vehicles over 10 years and petrol vehicles over 15 years
Beginning July 1, 2025, fuel stations across Delhi will stop supplying fuel to overage diesel and petrol vehicles as part of a broader initiative to curb vehicular pollution in the capital. The policy, implemented in accordance with directives from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), targets diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years.
To facilitate enforcement, the Delhi government is mandating the installation of Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at all fuel stations, including both petrol and CNG outlets. These cameras will automatically identify vehicles that fall outside the permissible age limit and flag them for fuel denial. Transport department officials report that camera installation is nearly complete, with only a small number of stations still pending setup.
The initiative follows a CAQM order issued in April 2025, aiming to tighten controls on emissions from aging vehicles. The Delhi transport department has issued a public notice warning that vehicles detected by ANPR systems — or identified through other surveillance means — will not be refuelled. Furthermore, such vehicles may be subject to legal action under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1989.
Vehicle owners affected by this policy are advised to either obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) for relocating the vehicle outside the National Capital Region or have it scrapped at a Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility (RVSF).
In total, the plan covers approximately 560 fuel stations across Delhi, including about 400 petrol pumps and 160 CNG outlets. Officials believe the infrastructure is largely in place to support the policy rollout.
However, operational hurdles remain. Representatives from the Delhi Petrol Dealers’ Association acknowledged the government’s efforts but highlighted technical issues with the system’s responsiveness. In some cases, alerts regarding overage vehicles are triggered only after refuelling has already occurred. Discussions between fuel station operators and the transport department are expected to address these concerns before the policy comes into full effect.
The measure builds on previous legal and environmental rulings, including a 2018 Supreme Court verdict that banned the operation of diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old in Delhi. Additionally, a 2014 National Green Tribunal order prohibits parking of such vehicles in public areas.
