In a major crackdown on vehicular pollution, the Delhi government has announced that vehicles older than 15 years will not be allowed to refuel at petrol pumps starting March 31. The decision was announced by Delhi’s Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday as part of a series of anti-pollution measures to improve the city’s air quality.
“We are installing gadgets at petrol pumps that will identify vehicles older than 15 years, and no fuel will be provided to them,” Sirsa stated, adding that the Union Ministry of Petroleum will be informed about the decision.
Key Anti-Pollution Measures
Apart from restricting fuel access to older vehicles, the government has introduced several other measures:
- Mandatory anti-smog guns: High-rise buildings, hotels, commercial complexes, and major construction sites in Delhi will be required to install anti-smog guns to curb pollution levels.
- Electric buses by 2025: Around 90% of the public CNG buses in Delhi will be phased out and replaced with electric buses by December 2025.
- Cloud seeding for artificial rain: The government will seek approval from the Centre for cloud seeding to induce artificial rain whenever pollution levels spike in the capital.
Petrol Dealers Welcome Fuel Restrictions
Delhi Petrol Dealers Association President Nischal Singhania supported the fuel restriction, noting that the Supreme Court had already banned vehicles older than 15 years from plying in Delhi. He suggested that existing systems at petrol pumps, which currently capture vehicle number plates for pollution control alerts, could be adapted to enforce the new fuel restriction.
Political Battle Over Delhi’s Air Pollution
Air pollution has been a major political issue in Delhi. During the 2025 assembly election campaign, the ruling BJP and the opposition Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) blamed each other for the city’s deteriorating air quality. While the BJP accused the AAP of failing to control stubble burning in Punjab, AAP countered by blaming the Centre and BJP-ruled states like Haryana and Uttar Pradesh for not taking adequate measures.
With these new measures, the BJP-led Delhi government aims to take a stronger stance on pollution control, promising swift action to improve air quality in the capital. However, the effectiveness of these steps remains to be seen.
Sources By Agencies