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The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has postponed the enforcement of its ban on refuelling end-of-life (EoL) vehicles in Delhi, shifting the deadline from July 1 to November 1.

The move comes in response to a range of operational difficulties, including unresolved technical issues and concerns over the system's integration with neighbouring states, according to The Indian Express.

The proposed measure, aimed at curbing pollution from ageing vehicles, targets diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol ones over 15 years. While the new timeline aligns enforcement across Delhi and five high-density districts—Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Sonipat—the CAQM has confirmed that the rest of the National Capital Region (NCR) will see similar action from April 1, 2026.

Request from Delhi Minister Triggers Delay

Delhi’s Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, had written to the commission urging a delay. He cited a string of “critical operational and infrastructural challenges” and flagged widespread malfunctions in the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system. Among the concerns were misaligned cameras, faulty sensors, and an inability to identify vehicles without High Security Registration Plates (HSRP).

In his appeal, Sirsa also warned of the risk of “fuel tourism”, where drivers from outside Delhi could exploit enforcement gaps due to incomplete integration of the VAHAN database across state lines. “Immediate implementation… may be premature and potentially counter-productive,” he had cautioned.

Full Implementation Now Set for November

Several fuel outlets in Delhi have already begun setting up ANPR cameras, designed to scan vehicle number plates upon entry and cross-check registration data with central databases. If a vehicle is classified as EoL, fuel is to be denied, and the incident reported for potential penalties, including seizure or scrapping.

However, delays in system deployment and concerns from the public have prompted the CAQM to take a more phased approach. It has now committed to a synchronised launch of the measure across Delhi and adjoining districts by November 1, with full camera installation in targeted areas expected by October 31.

This policy forms part of a broader mandate to reduce vehicular emissions in the capital, as directed by both the Supreme Court and the National Green Tribunal (NGT), which have banned overage vehicles from operating within Delhi’s jurisdiction due to their disproportionate impact on air quality.