Key Facts
- Effective From: July 1, 2025 (Delhi); Phased rollout in NCR (Nov 2025-Apr 2026).
- Coverage:
- Diesel vehicles >10 years
- Petrol vehicles >15 years
- Enforcement:
- ANPR cameras at 498 fuel stations scan number plates linked to VAHAN database.
- Audio alert → Fuel denial → Impounding unless exempted.
- Affected Vehicles: 62 lakh ELVs in Delhi (41L 2-wheelers, 18L 4-wheelers).
Legal Basis
| Mandate | Provisions |
|---|---|
| NGT Order (2015) | Ban on >10-yr diesel & >15-yr petrol vehicles in Delhi-NCR. |
| SC Order (2018) | Upheld NGT; directed impounding of violators. |
| EP Rules, 2025 | Mandatory scrapping within 180 days of registration expiry. |
| Motor Vehicles Act, 1988 | Registration validity: 15 years (non-transport vehicles). |
Challenges & Criticism
- Implementation Issues:
- ANPR glitches (camera placement, HSRP recognition failures).
- Enforcement drop: 80 seizures (July 1) → 0 (July 4).
- Cross-border refueling risk (lack of NCR state data integration).
- CSE Critique: Age caps are "not scalable nationally"; focus on PUC checks & public transport instead.
Key Concepts & Definitions
| Term | Definition | Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| ELV | End-of-Life Vehicle (diesel >10yr/petrol >15yr) | Pollution source |
| ANPR | Automatic Number Plate Recognition | Tech enforcement |
| CAQM | Commission for Air Quality Management (NCR) | Statutory regulator |
| RVSF Rules | Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facility Rules, 2021 | Circular economy |