Delhi Puts EOL Vehicle Seizures On Hold, Seeks CAQM’s Direction

The Delhi government has temporarily halted the implementation of its End-of-Life (EOL) vehicle impounding policy, just two days after it came into effect, following significant public backlash and technical shortcomings.

The decision was announced on Thursday by Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who confirmed that old vehicles will not be impounded in the national capital for now. "The Chief Minister has assured residents that old vehicles will not be impounded arbitrarily. While we remain committed to reducing pollution in Delhi, we will not allow impounding of old vehicles until proper systems are in place," Sirsa stated.

The move comes amid rising complaints from vehicle owners and criticism from opposition leaders over the strict enforcement measures. Many residents raised concerns about the fuel ban imposed on EOL vehicles and the lack of clarity around enforcement protocols.

Sirsa also revealed that the Delhi government has written to the Chairman of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), citing serious infrastructure gaps in the implementation process. "ANPR (Automatic Number Plate Recognition) cameras are not functioning properly, loudspeakers are malfunctioning, and there is no real-time data integration across Delhi-NCR," he said.

He further added that in the absence of such restrictions in neighbouring areas like Noida, Gurugram, and Faridabad, many Delhi vehicle owners were traveling outside the city to refuel their vehicles.

In its letter to CAQM, the Delhi government pointed to several technical challenges, including faulty hardware and the absence of a system to notify citizens when their vehicles are marked as EOL. Sirsa stressed that until a robust and citizen-friendly framework is in place, no impounding should take place.

However, the broader policy of denying fuel to EOL vehicles remains in effect. As per CAQM's earlier directions, petrol pumps across Delhi have been instructed not to provide fuel to such vehicles starting July 1, and the Transport Department, Delhi Police, and traffic officials had already rolled out an enforcement strategy for compliance.

With the policy now in limbo, further decisions will depend on CAQM's review and response. The government has reiterated its commitment to environmental goals while balancing public convenience and technical readiness.