Delhi's End-of-Life vehicle ban | Bold step towards clean air or a policy challenge in making?

Starting July 1, 2025, Delhi will enforce one of its most stringent anti-pollution regulations yet — the impounding of End-of-Life (EOL) vehicles and imposition of fines at fuel stations. This new phase in the National Capital’s war on vehicular pollution, spearheaded by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), marks a transition from policy warnings to direct enforcement. But while the intent is clear — reducing toxic emissions — the path ahead is riddled with logistical, social, and legal hurdles.

What Are EOL Vehicles and Why Are They a Problem?

End-of-Life vehicles refer to diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. Their cumulative impact on urban air pollution is substantial. According to the CAQM, Delhi alone has approximately 62 lakh EOL vehicles, of which 41 lakh are two-wheelers — many of them still in use. Across the rest of the National Capital Region (NCR), another 44 lakh such vehicles exist, most clustered in high-density cities like Gurugram, Ghaziabad, Faridabad, Sonipat, and Gautam Budh Nagar.

The Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal (NGT) have repeatedly flagged the issue, urging the removal of such vehicles. However, implementation on the ground has lagged, largely due to political pushback, infrastructure deficits, and lack of coordination between states.

Fuel Stations Become Checkpoints

Under the new rule, automated number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed at around 500 fuel stations in Delhi. These systems are linked to the central VAHAN database and automatically detect the age and fuel type of the incoming vehicle. If flagged as EOL, the vehicle will be denied fuel, and the violation logged for enforcement action.

This tech-led initiative attempts to bridge the enforcement gap — an ambitious move, considering the potential volume of vehicles being scanned daily. More crucially, it allows the authorities to catch violators in real-time, unlike earlier policies which relied heavily on sporadic road checks or complaints.

Penalties and Immediate Impounding

What makes the current directive more forceful is the penalty clause. According to Delhi Transport Commissioner Niharika Rai, any EOL vehicle detected at a fuel station will be impounded on the spot. The fines are hefty: ₹10,000 for four-wheelers and ₹5,000 for two-wheelers, plus towing and parking charges.

Owners must also sign an undertaking promising that the vehicle will neither be used nor parked in any public space in Delhi, and must be moved out of the city’s jurisdiction. If not scrapped immediately, these vehicles can only be relocated after securing a No Objection Certificate (NOC) within a year of expiry.

This effectively turns fuel stations into frontline enforcement outposts — a dramatic shift in the way urban pollution control is monitored.

Extending the Model to the NCR

The policy will be implemented in five NCR cities — Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar, and Sonipat — from November 1, 2025, with ANPR systems in place by October 31. The rest of the NCR has until March 31, 2026, with fuel denial starting April 1, 2026. Additionally, all 156 Delhi entry points will be covered under the mechanism for EOL detection of incoming commercial vehicles like buses and trucks.

With over 100 enforcement teams comprising traffic and transport officials, the CAQM hopes to ensure the rule does not fizzle out in execution.

The Promise: Cleaner Air and Public Health

This policy is a response to the chronic air pollution crisis in Delhi, which routinely ranks among the world’s most polluted cities. Vehicular emissions — especially from aging, poorly maintained vehicles — are one of the top contributors to Delhi’s PM2.5 and NOx levels.

Phasing out EOL vehicles could drastically reduce localized pollutants and improve respiratory health, especially in high-traffic zones. The move is also in line with India’s larger clean mobility push, which includes incentives for electric vehicles (EVs), scrappage policies, and greater investment in public transport.

The Pitfalls: Enforcement, Equity, and Alternatives

However, the policy is not without challenges:

1. Enforcement Fatigue and Overreach

Fuel station owners now bear a semi-policing role. While ANPR cameras automate much of the process, staff must handle potential disputes with customers, report violations, and deal with towing logistics. There are concerns about law-and-order issues, especially in congested or lower-income neighborhoods.

2. Impact on Low-Income Vehicle Owners

A significant chunk of EOL vehicle users are from working-class households — delivery workers, small traders, and auto drivers who cannot afford to replace vehicles easily. The policy, unless matched by scrappage incentives or subsidized EV alternatives, risks pushing them out of livelihood.

3. Scrappage Ecosystem Not Fully Ready

While the policy mandates sending impounded vehicles to Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSFs), India's scrappage infrastructure is still in a nascent stage. The gap between detection and safe disposal could lead to impounded vehicles piling up or being dumped illegally.

4. Jurisdictional Loopholes

Delhi is not an island. Vehicles from neighboring states like Haryana and UP freely enter the city. The rule applies irrespective of the state of registration, but actual enforcement at borders — and coordination between states — will be crucial. Past attempts at NCR-wide pollution control have faltered due to lack of uniform implementation.