From 6am, teams from the transport department, Delhi Traffic Police, local police, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) were stationed across South Delhi’s fuel stations, including the Dhingra petrol pump at Chirag Delhi
The Delhi government on Tuesday launched a ban on supplying fuel to old vehicles, rolling out a citywide enforcement operation aimed at reducing pollution levels in the Capital. The move targets petrol vehicles over 15 years old and diesel vehicles more than 10 years old, in line with Supreme Court and National Green Tribunal directives.
From 6am, teams from the transport department, Delhi Traffic Police, local police, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) were stationed across South Delhi’s fuel stations, including the Dhingra petrol pump at Chirag Delhi. The multi-agency effort is part of a broader strategy to enforce the restrictions under high security.
“We are here from 6am to ensure that no old vehicle is allowed to refuel,” said Sub-Inspector Dharamveer from the Transport Enforcement team. “Petrol pumps have been directed to deny fuel to such vehicles.” He added that AI-powered Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and hooter systems have been installed at over 350 petrol pumps across the city to detect non-compliant vehicles.
“If any such vehicle arrives, the camera detects it instantly and triggers a hooter to alert the staff. These vehicles are being impounded on the spot,” he said.
Assistant Sub-Inspector Jagan Lal of the Delhi Traffic Police explained that enforcement personnel are also cross-verifying vehicle data through a central database. “The cameras alert us automatically, but our teams are also checking vehicle numbers manually to ensure no violations go unnoticed,” he said. “We’re working in coordination with local police and transport officials to ensure full compliance and maintain public order.”
Petrol station staff have been briefed on the enforcement protocols. “We’ve been told not to refuel any old vehicle. If such a vehicle is detected by the system or by us, we immediately inform the enforcement officers,” said Hriday Ram, who works at the Dhingra pump.
The policy is rooted in earlier legal rulings to curb vehicular emissions in the Capital. A 2018 Supreme Court order banned diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years from operating in Delhi. A 2014 National Green Tribunal order had already prohibited vehicles over 15 years from being parked in public spaces.
Officials say the fuel ban is a critical step towards improving air quality in the Capital, which routinely features among the world’s most polluted cities. The real test, however, will be whether the system remains consistently enforced—and whether it makes a measurable impact on Delhi’s air.