New Delhi: From April 1, petrol pumps in Delhi will stop giving fuel to vehicles older than 15 years. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced this decision on Saturday, March 1.
He also said that the Delhi government will inform the Union Ministry of Petroleum about this decision.
Apart from limiting fuel supply to older vehicles, Sirsa also announced that all tall buildings, hotels, and commercial complexes in the city must set up anti-smog guns to help reduce air pollution.
A special committee has already been set up to find ways to reduce air pollution in Delhi. As part of their plan, fuel stations will be instructed not to serve end-of-life vehicles. This rule will take effect once the central government gives its approval.
What Are End-of-Life Vehicles?
According to the rules, diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years are considered end-of-life. The committee that made this decision includes officials from NITI Aayog, the Ministry of Road Transport, the Ministry of Petroleum, the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI), the International Council on Clean Transport, and the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR.
How Will Vehicles Be Checked?
Petrol pumps will check vehicle age by scanning number plates. Automatic Number Plate Readers (ANPRs) will be installed at all fuel stations and linked to the central government's Vahan portal. When a vehicle's number plate is scanned, the system will mark it green or red. If a vehicle gets a red mark, it will not be allowed to refuel.
Currently, 200 out of 600 petrol pumps in Delhi have ANPR systems. These will be expanded across the city and later to the NCR region. Authorities are also planning stricter construction rules in neighboring states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Haryana to further tackle pollution.