Indias Mega Cities Grapple With High Ozone Pollution This Summer
Delhi’s government has launched a major crackdown from July 1, barring over‑age diesel and petrol vehicles from refuelling – part of a high-tech drive to curb surging air pollution. Automatic plate‑reading cameras at 498 fuel outlets and ISBTs will detect end‑of‑life vehicles (diesel >10 years, petrol >15 years) and alert enforcement teams to impound violators. CNG vehicles remain unaffected.
Private petrol pumps in Delhi now host ANPR cameras that cross‑check every vehicle with the VAHAN database. Now, if a vehicle exceeds the age limit, it is denied fuel and reported for possible seizure. The Transport Department and Traffic Police will station teams at fuel hubs to ensure strict compliance and handle any conflict stemming from refusal of service. 382 petrol/diesel—and 116 CNG—stations are already fitted with cameras, with rollout to NCR districts by November 1. Fuel stations with frequent ELV visits will be monitored with data analysed weekly. The CAQM and Ministry of Petroleum will be notified of violations. This enforcement follows a Supreme Court order mandating stricter control over aged vehicles due to their disproportionate contribution to particulate pollution.
However, implementation remains limited to Delhi city; neighboring Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Sonipat have not yet activated ANPR at fuel stations. With ELV hotspots disproportionately affecting working-class and commercial traffic, concerns have been raised about accessibility. Officials have urged calm enforcement, assuring that “CNG‑powered vehicles are unaffected and no civil unrest is anticipated.” Advocates say this crackdown marks a significant step: ELVs, responsible for 70–80 percent of vehicular particulate emissions, will be systematically removed from roads. Critics, especially from the transport unions, have called for staggered implementation to allow dependent vehicle owners time to transition. A phased approach may be considered for those affected.
As enforcement begins, Delhi residents are bracing for smoother air quality – but the human cost of compliance risks being overlooked. While the cameras are silent enforcers, they signal a dramatic shift in how the city confronts its toxic haze. The scheme aims to clean the air swiftly, though officials caution that equitable alternatives must follow to avoid penalising low‑income commuters.
