New Delhi: Faced with intense backlash from the public, the Delhi government has rescinded its contentious directive prohibiting fuel refills for older vehicles at city petrol pumps. The decision to roll back the order comes after widespread outrage and criticism, both online and offline.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa addressed the media, admitting that the enforcement of such a ban presented major practical and technical difficulties. "Rather than penalizing those who have maintained their vehicles in good condition, we are now considering targeted action against vehicles that are visibly unfit for the road," he said.
The now-scrapped regulation aimed to block fuel access to petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles more than 10 years old, effective from July 1. It was part of a broader anti-pollution strategy but quickly spiraled into controversy due to its sweeping impact on lakhs of vehicle owners in the capital.
The public backlash was immediate and loud. Social media exploded with posts criticizing the move, including viral stories of luxury car owners forced to sell well-maintained vehicles for next to nothing. One user posted about selling his eight-year-old Range Rover at a heavy loss, while another lamented having to give away a 2015 Mercedes-Benz for a fraction of its value.
Estimates suggest that over 62 lakh vehicles in Delhi could be affected by the end-of-life vehicle classification. In preparation for enforcement, the transport department, police, and municipal bodies had coordinated a city-wide monitoring plan. Police officers were stationed at 100 out of Delhi’s 500 fuel stations, transport officials at 50, and traffic police at the remaining 350, all tasked with seizing non-compliant vehicles.
To tighten surveillance, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras were installed at 498 petrol stations across the city. Linked to the central Vahan database, these cameras were meant to flag outdated vehicles in real-time, enabling pump operators to report violators directly to authorities.
Despite the extensive preparation, the plan has now been shelved following the government’s acknowledgment of its unfeasibility and the overwhelming public dissent. The administration has assured that any future measures will aim to strike a balance between environmental goals and public convenience.