Mercedes Worth ₹84 Lakh Sold for ₹2.5 Lakh: What Does the Delhi Government Want from the Public?

Delhi News: The Delhi government’s campaign to seize 10 to 15-year-old vehicles and stop fuel supply to them, which began on July 1, now appears to be losing momentum. The government has written a letter to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), stating that the current system is neither rational nor practical. The government has also suggested that such a policy should only be implemented when all NCR states adopt it simultaneously.

Doubts Raised Over Camera Systems

Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa revealed that the ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras installed at petrol pumps are not technically reliable. These cameras were supposed to identify old vehicles to deny them fuel, but their inefficiency has rendered the plan ineffective. The government clarified that without a robust technical and legal foundation, this campaign is unfeasible. For now, vehicle owners have received a major relief, as the action of seizing old vehicles has been put on hold.

Political Clash Over Old Vehicles

The issue has sparked a political confrontation between the BJP and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Minister Sirsa accused the AAP government of orchestrating the old vehicle seizure campaign in collusion with vehicle showroom owners, thereby causing financial harm to the public. He cited an example where an individual was forced to sell a ₹84 lakh Mercedes car for just ₹2.5 lakh due to this policy.

Letter Sent to CAQM

In its letter to the CAQM, the Delhi government wrote that vehicles should not be seized or denied fuel unless this policy is uniformly implemented in neighboring states like Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan. The government has proposed that the policy be enforced only from November 1, 2025, when it is scheduled to be implemented across the entire NCR.

Final Decision Expected in November

For now, the policy targeting old vehicles has been paused, offering relief to vehicle owners. However, once a uniform policy is in place across the NCR, expected by November, Delhi may reintroduce the campaign. Until then, the issue remains hotly debated on both political and administrative fronts.