Delhi's prohibition on older vehicles, will it bring about a shift?

In 2015, the National Green Tribunal (NGT) mandated that all diesel vehicles (heavy and light) over 10 years old would be banned from operating on the roads of Delhi NCR.

Additionally, petrol vehicles over 15 years old and diesel vehicles over 10 years old will not be permitted for registration in the NCR, Delhi.

In 2018, the Supreme Court upheld and reinforced the NGT’s directive. It was stated that vehicles that breach the order must be confiscated.

The Environment Protection (End-of-Life Vehicles) Rules, 2025, which took effect on April 1, now require scrapping to be done within 180 days after the vehicle's registration expires.

The enforcement depends on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems placed at gas stations. These cameras read license plates and verify them against the VAHAN database to locate ELVs. If found, fuel will be restricted, and vehicles could face impoundment or destruction unless they qualify for exemptions.

Problem with Older Cars

Vehicles that do not meet BS-VI (Bharat Stage VI) standards significantly contribute to vehicular emissions.

BS-IV vehicles, for example, produce 4.5 to 5.5 times greater particulate matter compared to BS-VI vehicles.

Transport emissions make up 28% of PM2.5, 41% of sulfur dioxide (SO2), and 78% of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions in the NCR.

Even though legal requirements have been in place since 2015, their official implementation was postponed because of the lack of essential technological infrastructure.

Bharat Stage Standards

Bharat Stage Norms (BS Norms) are emission standards set by the Government to manage the release of air pollutants from internal combustion engines and spark-ignition engines, along with motor vehicles.

These are standards for emissions in Europe (Euro norms).

These regulations are applicable to all types of vehicles: motorcycles, three-wheeled vehicles, cars, lorries, buses, etc.

Obstacles in the Application of Bharat Stage Standards in India

Automobile Industry Preparedness: Abrupt changes, such as moving from BS-IV to BS-VI (bypassing BS-V), compelled car makers to upgrade engines and emission technologies rapidly.

Fuel Accessibility: Refineries needed to enhance their operations to create cleaner fuels (e.g., BS-VI compliant fuel), necessitating significant investments and nationwide coordination.

Testing Facilities: Insufficient testing and certification infrastructure for meeting emission standards, particularly for real driving emission (RDE) assessments.

For Consumers: BS-VI vehicles have a higher cost, which deters buyers from choosing newer models.

Limited Enforcement: Inadequate capacity to monitor compliance on the road, particularly in smaller towns and rural regions.

High Volume of Aged Vehicles: Older BS-II and BS-III vehicles continue to operate on roads, releasing considerably higher levels of pollutants.

Opposition to Scrappage: Vehicle owners hesitate to dispose of old cars because of emotional attachment, weak enforcement of scrappage regulations, and insufficient financial incentives.

Limited Awareness: A large number of consumers do not recognize BS standards and their ecological advantages.

Conclusion

The CAQM’s order is a significant enforcement action targeting the gradual elimination of highly polluting vehicles from the streets.

Although it is legally supported and environmentally sound, its success depends on technological strength, inter-state collaboration, and public backing.

The answer lies in synchronized planning and efforts across various areas, engaging a diverse array of stakeholders.