The Delhi government has made a big announcement today regarding old vehicles. The state government has announced a tough enforcement policy targeting end-of-life vehicles from the coming 1 July. To effectively implement this new rule, the government has officially released the Standard Operating Procedure (SOPS). In which clear instructions have been given for fuel stations and enforcement officers.
What is the new rule?
Under this new rule, petrol and CNG vehicles more than 15 years old and more than 10 years old diesel vehicles will be known as end-off-life vehicles. That is, the life of these vehicles will now be considered over. These vehicles will be identified by the automated number plate recognition (ANPR) system installed on Delhi’s fuel pumps. The government has given a clear order that it is mandatory to refuse these vehicles to give fuel (petrol, diesel or CNG) without any exception to any fuel stations in Delhi.
Old vehicles will not get fuel
That is, all such old vehicles will no longer get fuel at any petrol pump in the state. To easily identify these vehicles, an automated number plate recognition (ANPR) system has been installed at all petrol pumps. Who will keep an eye on the number plate of the vehicle. As soon as such vehicles are identified, the fuel pump attendant on the spot will refuse to give fuel to the said vehicle owner.
To implement this new rule smoothly, all fuel station operators have been directed that they will prominently display all the signs that alert vehicle owners at the fuel station about the ban. In addition, it will be mandatory to be adequately trained to employees to identify and management of EOL vehicles at petrol pumps.
Apart from this, petrol pump operators will also have to maintain a detailed log of all cases in which fuel was forbidden. So that transparency and accountability can be ensured.
Strict action will be taken if the rule is not followed
The Transport Department will be cautiously monitoring the adherence to these SOPs in association with other Enforcement agencies. Strict legal action will be taken if the rule is not followed. Which includes confiscation of EOL vehicles found at fuel stations. In addition, the petrol pump owners who fail to implement the prescribed measures or refuse to follow the guidelines will have to face punishment under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Why did this rule come into force?
Actually, the government wants to reduce pollution from vehicles in Delhi by removing old, more pollution vehicles from the roads through its new no fuele for old vehicle policy. By implementing these strict rules, the Delhi government expects to promote clean air and improve health standard.