Latest Car News in India

Taking a U-turn on its early decision of banning the EOL vehicles (15 years old petrol and 10 years old diesel), the Delhi government on Thursday requested the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to revoke the refuelling ban on end-of-life (EoL) vehicles, just two days after the regulation came into effect on July 1. The request by the government of Delhi was made through an official letter, in which the Delhi government urged the CAQM to "put on hold with immediate effect" the ban on refuelling EoL vehicles, referring to the outcry from the public regarding the inconvenience caused to vehicle owners.

 

 

Despite the proposed rollback on fuel restrictions, EoL vehicles will be restricted from moving on the capital’s roads. This restriction is grounded in judicial mandates, namely the National Green Tribunal's (NGT) 2014 order and a subsequent 2018 Supreme Court ruling that upheld the NGT’s decision. As per existing rules, the owners of these vehicles will not be allowed to park them in public spaces within Delhi. The responsibility of implementing and monitoring this rule will be on the shoulders of the city’s transport department, which retains the authority to impound such vehicles and send them to scrapping facilities if necessary.

 

Owners seeking to recover impounded EoL vehicles will be required to get a No-Objection Certificate (NoC) from the Delhi government. For this, they will have to provide an undertaking, supported by evidence, confirming that the vehicle will either be moved out of Delhi or stored on private premises within the city. Apart from this, they will also be required to pay the penalties of Rs 10,000 for four-wheelers and Rs 5,000 for two- or three-wheelers, to reclaim their vehicles.

 

This move by the Delhi government is an indication that the rules related to end-of-life vehicles may be simplified in the coming days. However, the core ban on operating older vehicles within the city limits remains firmly in place.