In a major move to combat air pollution, the Delhi government has implemented a strict new rule for vehicle owners. Starting July 1, 2025, diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years will no longer be allowed to refuel at any petrol or diesel station in Delhi. This rule applies to all such vehicles registered in Delhi-NCR.
Over 500 Fuel Stations Equipped with ANPR Cameras
To enforce this rule, the government has installed Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at over 500 fuel stations. These cameras will identify old vehicles, and violators will face strict action. The initiative aims to significantly improve Delhi’s air quality.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) clarified on Friday that any vehicle exceeding its permissible operational life will be denied fuel in Delhi from July 1 onward. This rule covers vehicles registered anywhere in India — not just in Delhi — that fall under the old diesel (10+ years) or petrol (15+ years) categories.
How Will Vehicles Be Identified?
Back in April, CAQM had instructed all fuel stations to stop refueling outdated vehicles starting July 1. Of the 520 fuel outlets in Delhi, 500 have already installed ANPR cameras, with the remaining expected to comply by June 30.
These cameras will detect any diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years. Once identified, alerts will be sent to enforcement teams composed of traffic and transport department officers, who may seize the vehicles if necessary.
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Rule to Extend to Areas Near Delhi
This system will also be implemented from November 1, 2025, in five high-density NCR districts: Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, and Sonipat. The installation of ANPR cameras in these areas is to be completed by October 31, 2025. The remaining NCR districts have time until March 31, 2026, to install the systems, and the fuel ban on outdated vehicles in those areas will begin from April 1, 2026.
Vehicles from Outside Delhi Also Covered
CAQM technical member Virendra Sharma clarified that this rule isn’t limited to vehicles registered in Delhi alone. Even vehicles registered outside Delhi but operating within the city will be identified and denied fuel if they exceed the allowed age limit. If Delhi residents try to bypass the rule by registering old vehicles elsewhere, they too will be stopped.
Officials confirmed that this system can detect expired vehicles regardless of where they are registered in India. Additional guidelines will be issued soon to control the movement of such vehicles within Delhi-NCR.
Over 6.2 Million Aged Vehicles in Delhi
According to CAQM, Delhi has over 62 lakh (6.2 million) vehicles that have exceeded their legal operational age, including 41 lakh two-wheelers. Across the NCR region, there are approximately 44 lakh such vehicles, with most located in the five high-density districts mentioned above.