Delhi Vehicle Policy Set For Tweak: Govt Says Fuel Ban Not Feasible, All Old Cars Won't Be Scrapped

The Delhi government has decided to retreat from its contentious 'End-of-Life' vehicle policy, that would have led to a rapid phasing out of pollution-causing older vehicles from the national capital.

The government has effectively put on hold the EOL policy, which would have led to the denial of petrol to cars registered more than 15 years ago and diesel to those vehicles registered over 10 years ago, NDTV reported.

In a letter to the Commission for Air Quality Management, Delhi Environment Manjinder Singh Sirsa said "it will not be feasible to implement" the order to deny fuel to older vehicles.

The minister that a system is being developed to inform vehicle owners about EOL vehicles in advance. However, implementing the Automatic Number Plate Recognition, or ANPR system is not currently feasible, as it has not been implemented in neighbouring cities either.

Sirsa also told reporters that the government will come up with a system to seize pollution-causing old vehicles, and not those vehicles which will be adequately maintained.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has requested the CAQM to consider implementing the ANPR system in Delhi only when it is launched in neighboring cities on Nov. 1.

The decision comes amid mounting criticism from several quarters, as several car owners panicked about the fate of their older vehicles. The policy was also labelled as impractical as such mandates do not exist in the neighbouring cities and towns of the National Capital Region or NCR.

The CAQM order for denial of fuel to older vehicles was to come into effect in Delhi from July 1. Over 60 lakh older vehicles, including trucks, cars and motorcycles, were to be affected by its implementation.

The stringent measure was pushed by the pollution-controlling panel as Delhi has been suffering under poor air quality for the past several years. The move to phase out older vehicles was seen as crucial to reduce carbon emissions in the city.