No Fuel for Old Vehicles: From July 1, Petrol, Diesel & CNG Will Be Denied to Aged Vehicles in Delhi

In a bold move to curb rising air pollution, the Delhi government has announced a strict regulation that will come into effect from July 1, 2025: old petrol, diesel, and CNG vehicles will no longer be allowed to refuel at fuel stations in the national capital.

Vehicles Affected:

Under this new rule:

• Diesel vehicles older than 10 years, and
• Petrol and CNG vehicles older than 15 years
  will be banned from purchasing fuel across all fuel pumps in Delhi.

The aim is to discourage the use of aging, highly polluting vehicles and push citizens towards cleaner alternatives, including electric vehicles.

Smart Cameras to Enforce the Rule

To ensure compliance, high-tech cameras capable of scanning number plates are being installed at all fuel stations across Delhi.
These cameras will be linked directly to the government’s central vehicle database.

• When a vehicle arrives at the station, the system will automatically detect its age.
• If the vehicle exceeds the permissible age limit, an alert will be triggered, and fuel station staff will deny service.

Fuel Stations Get SOPs and Clear Instructions

The Delhi government has issued detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to all fuel stations:

• Stations must scan and verify each vehicle’s age before dispensing fuel.
• A record of vehicles denied fuel must be maintained.
• Large, visible signboards will be displayed at stations with warnings like:
  “No Fuel for Old Vehicles” and
  “15+ Year Old Petrol/CNG and 10+ Year Old Diesel Vehicles Not Allowed”

Penalties for Violators

Strict penalties await those who try to bypass the rule:

• If a vehicle owner attempts to mislead the system or forcibly demand fuel, the Transport Department can seize the vehicle on the spot.
• Heavy fines will be imposed, and in repeat cases, scrapping procedures will be initiated against the vehicle.

NCR-Wide Implementation Coming Soon

This new fuel ban won’t be limited to Delhi for long. Here’s the expansion timeline:

• From November 1, 2025, the same rule will apply in major NCR cities like:
  Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, Ghaziabad, and Sonipat.
• From April 1, 2026, the regulation will be extended to all remaining NCR districts.

According to official estimates, over 6.2 million vehicles in Delhi alone could be affected by this policy.

What This Means for Vehicle Owners

If you’re driving an old petrol, diesel, or CNG vehicle in Delhi:

• You will not be able to refuel after July 1, 2025.
• It’s advisable to switch to newer, cleaner vehicles, or preferably, transition to electric mobility to avoid penalties.

This marks one of the most aggressive anti-pollution policies implemented by any Indian city, signaling a serious commitment to improving air quality in the capital and its surroundings.