Delhi’s Fuel Ban U-Turn: Old Vehicle Policy Paused, Focus Shifts to Enhanced PUC

Following citizen protests, the Delhi government has put on hold its plan to restrict fuel sales to older vehicles. The initial proposal, slated to take effect from July 1, 2025, would have banned fuel for diesel vehicles over 10 years old and petrol vehicles over 15 years old. This move, aimed at curbing Delhi’s pollution levels, faced significant opposition from the public. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa intervened, contacting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to halt the policy’s enforcement. The government now aims to develop a more effective approach to address pollution, potentially focusing on the maintenance of vehicles rather than their age. The original plan was estimated to have affected 62 lakh vehicles. The government is now working on a stricter Pollution Under Control (PUC) system and will provide advance warnings to owners of End of Life Vehicles (ELV) before any phase-out occurs.