The Delhi government has decided to clean up the city’s air but will not allow the impounding of “end of life” vehicles (ELVs), Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on July 3, 2025. This move comes after public backlash and challenges with implementing the anti-pollution measure.
Mr. Sirsa said he wrote to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) asking them to pause their directive. The order had required fuel stations to refuse petrol or diesel to ELVs starting July 1, and allowed vehicles to be impounded if identified by ANPR cameras.
“We will clean Delhi’s environment, but we will not let vehicles be impounded. This is Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s promise to the people,” Sirsa said during a press conference.
Ms. Gupta added that her government will work hard to address issues related to the ELV ban, which targets petrol vehicles older than 15 years and diesel vehicles older than 10 years.
She acknowledged the public’s concerns, noting that many people have emotional attachments to their older vehicles, which might be gifts or cherished keepsakes.
An official said that the ANPR-based fuel denial at petrol stations would not be enforced from Friday, though the Delhi government hasn’t formally confirmed this yet.
In his letter to CAQM, Sirsa pointed out that technical problems with the complex ANPR system and poor coordination with neighboring states caused public frustration. He said it’s not practical to deny fuel to ELVs using this method right now.
Instead, the government is exploring ways to focus on the actual pollution vehicles emit, rather than banning all older vehicles outright.
CAQM had issued the directive on April 23, requiring fuel stations in Delhi to refuse fuel to ELVs detected by ANPR cameras starting July 1. The same rule was to apply in five NCR districts from November 1, and across the rest of NCR from April 2026.
Initially, Delhi’s Transport Department and traffic police began impounding ELVs from July 1. CAQM data shows Delhi has about 62 lakh ELVs, while the rest of NCR has roughly 44 lakh. The National Green Tribunal banned ELVs across NCR back in 2015.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) criticized the move, saying public opposition forced the government to back down. “The BJP was hiding behind a court order, but when people raised their voices, the move had to be withdrawn,” said AAP Delhi president Saurabh Bharadwaj.
A similar plan was announced by former Environment Minister Gopal Rai in 2022 but was never put into effect. Mr. Sirsa accused the previous AAP government of taking money from new car dealers and using ANPR cameras to target older vehicles.
