Delhi Wants To Ban All Petrol And Diesel Cars Permanently!
Delhi is actively pushing for electric vehicle (EV) adoption, to reduce pollution and improve the Air Quality Index (AQI). The latest reports say that top-level governmental discussions are currently underway, aimed at implementing a complete ban on petrol and diesel vehicles in Delhi-NCR.
If the new rules come into existence, new vehicle registrations will be restricted to just EVs, CNG-powered vehicles and hybrids. Pure combustion engine vehicles (petrol and diesel) will be phased out gradually. There is no word on the proposed timeline for this yet. All stakeholders and categories of vehicles will be considered while deciding this timeline, say sources.
Sources also say that a part of the proposed restrictions on new car registrations could come into effect within this financial year. By the end of 2025, Delhi-NCR will be in a position to allow only EV registrations, even in commercial and public mobility spaces.
Even three-wheeler goods vehicles and light goods vehicles will go electric by early 2026, or farthest by 2027. Commercial taxis will reportedly get a longer time period to make the transition. Private cars and two-wheelers will probably be the last to make the transition.
Timelines to allow registration to only cars and two-wheelers running on cleaner fuels (EV/CNG/Flexi-Fuel/ blended fuel etc), could fall in between 2030 and 2035. Sources also say that these restrictions may not be limited to Delhi alone. The first set of restrictions will come into play in Delhi. Later, it will also be introduced in places like Gurugram, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Ghaziabad. These have high vehicular density. The final phase will roll it out in the remaining NCR districts.
Additionally, the government is considering restricting commercial and goods vehicles that do not meet BS6 emission norms from entering the city. This could be implemented within a year.
Infrastructure initiatives like mechanized road sweeping, anti-smog guns, and increased green cover will also be undertaken to curb pollution in the state, especially dust and particulate pollution. Delhi has repeatedly identified nearly 2,000 km of road that requires redevelopment. Fund allocation for these projects is known to be in their discussion/ evaluative phases.
Delhi to Ban Petrol Two-Wheelers Soon
The Delhi government aims to make a complete transition to electric two-wheelers in the next three years. We expect it to roll out more purchase incentives to accelerate EV adoption. Stricter regulations and enforcement mechanisms will also be introduced to ensure compliance among buyers.
There will be a stronger focus on expanding the charging infrastructure. More than 13,200 charging stations could be set up across Delhi in the upcoming years. Charger installations will be made mandatory in new buildings and public spaces. Fast-charging corridors will also be set up on major lines like Ring Road and Outer Ring Road. Making things easier for the energy sector, private and semi-public charging stations will also be made eligible for capital subsidies.
Delhi's 'No Fuel' Policy For Old Vehicles!
Delhi's fight against deteriorating air quality has made it more hostile towards old vehicles than it has ever been. The government recently announced a 'fuel ban' for old vehicles, hoping to curb their use in the city. As per the new policy, vehicles older than 15 years will not be allowed to refuel from any fuel stations in Delhi. Specialised camera and analysis systems will be used to scan the vehicle number plate and decipher its age, before deciding if or not to refuel it. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems are now being installed in fuel stations, for this. These will use the data from the government's vahan portal to determine the age of the vehicle.
Environment Minister Manjinder Sirsa, in a previous statement, confirmed this move "To reduce vehicular pollution, devices are being installed at fuel stations throughout the city to identify such vehicles, and these cars will be denied fuel."
Bottomline
Delhi seems to be quite aggressive with its push for EV adoption and supporting policies. We wait to see how things unfold in the capital city, in the upcoming years....
Source: ET