Plugging the Wider Gap

Fleet renewal needs to be based on the merits of fitness, maintenance, and emissions performance of vehicles while targeted age-based bans are complementary

- ANUMITA ROYCHOWDHURY

On July 1, 2025, the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi implemented 'No fuel for 15 years old petrol and 10 years old diesel vehicles' in compliance with the mandate from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Within two days of its implementation, the city government, facing public ire, sent a missive to the CAQM asking to put this programme on hold, citing 'operational and infrastructural challenges' as the reasons.

This "no fuel" policy for overage vehicles is a strategy to implement the direction from the National Green Tribunal in 2015 that was subsequently upheld by the Supreme Court in 2018. Consequently, about 6.2 million vehicles were identified and deregistered as end-of-life vehicles (ELV).

When the impounding of these vehicles was challenged, the High Court in August 2023 directed the government to formulate a policy allowing citizens to reclaim their vehicles after paying the penalty and providing a written undertaking for not operating them within the city.

Thereafter, the Delhi government issued the "Guidelines for Handling End of Life Vehicle in Public Places, 2024" allowing residents to retrieve impounded ELVs by paying a fine and submitting an undertaking that the vehicles will not be driven within Delhi and will be parked in private parking spaces. Enforcement agencies are authorised to remove such ELVs from public spaces for scrapping. Registered Vehicle Scrapping Facilities (RVSF) have been identified.

In October 2024, the Delhi transport department further notified concessions in the Motor Vehicles Tax on the registration of new transport and non-transport vehicles, when an old vehicle is scrapped. This will require a 'Certificate of Deposit' from a registered vehicle scrapping facility to avail the benefit. The concession is linked to the scrap value and is capped at 50 per cent of that value. This aims to promote voluntary scrappage and the adoption of cleaner vehicles.