Date: 02.09.2025
Following a recent clarification from the Supreme Court, the rules regarding older vehicles in the Delhi-NCR region have shifted from a simple age-based ban to one focused on engine standards. The decision follows warnings from the CAQM that pre-2010 engines contribute disproportionately to the capital’s toxic smog. The decision includes :
- Protection from being impounded now applies only to vehicles meeting BS-IV or newer standards, even if they have crossed the 10-year (diesel) or 15-year (petrol) limit.
- All BS-III and older vehicles are no longer protected. Authorities can now seize these once they hit the age threshold, as they lack modern pollution controls.
- The Court is shifting toward “emission potential” rather than just a vehicle’s birth certificate to decide what stays on the road.
- To reduce smog from idling engines, the Court directed the MCD to consider suspending toll collection at nine major entry points.
- The NHAI has been tasked with moving toll booths to better locations to prevent the massive traffic bottlenecks that spike local pollution.
- A vehicle’s tech standard (BS rating) now matters more than its age in the fight for Delhi’s air quality.
