The Delhi government has temporarily suspended its fuel restriction policy for older vehicles in response to widespread public dissent. The policy, designed to mitigate pollution, had proposed to halt fuel sales to diesel vehicles exceeding 10 years and petrol vehicles exceeding 15 years, commencing July 1, 2025. The decision to halt the policy came after complaints from citizens and after an initial implementation phase that saw the impounding of numerous vehicles by traffic police. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has requested the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to reconsider the directive. The government acknowledges the need for a more refined approach, possibly targeting poorly maintained vehicles instead of focusing solely on age. This initial policy was estimated to affect over 62 lakh vehicles. The government is now formulating a more stringent Pollution Under Control (PUC) regimen, along with providing owners of End of Life Vehicles (ELV) with a three-month warning before any phase-out is initiated.
