No Petrol for Vehicles Over 15 Years in Delhi After March 31: Manjinder Singh Sirsa

Starting March 31, 2025, vehicles older than 15 years will no longer get petrol or diesel at fuel stations across Delhi. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced this bold step on Saturday, March 1, 2025, to tackle the city’s severe air pollution crisis. The move targets vehicular emissions, a major contributor to Delhi’s smoggy skies.

Sirsa shared the decision after a key meeting with officials focused on curbing pollution. “We are installing gadgets at petrol pumps to spot vehicles over 15 years old, and they won’t be fueled,” he said. The Delhi government will coordinate with the Union Ministry of Petroleum to enforce this rule, ensuring petrol pumps comply by the deadline.

This isn’t the only change coming. Sirsa revealed that high-rise buildings, hotels, and commercial complexes must now install anti-smog guns to spray water mist and reduce dust. Plus, nearly 90% of Delhi’s public CNG buses will switch to electric buses by December 2025, boosting cleaner transport options.

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Delhi’s air quality often hits “severe” levels, especially in winter, due to vehicle exhaust, construction dust, and stubble burning nearby. Older vehicles, with outdated emission standards, worsen the problem. This ban builds on earlier rules, like the National Green Tribunal’s 2014 order against 15-year-old petrol and 10-year-old diesel vehicles in the NCR.

Meanwhile, fuel prices in Delhi remain steady. On Saturday, petrol costs Rs 94.72 per litre, and diesel is Rs 87.62 per litre. Oil companies update these rates daily at 6 AM, reflecting global oil trends and exchange rates. The last major change was a Rs 2 cut in March 2024.
The new measures aim to ease the burden on Delhi’s 20 million residents, who face health risks from toxic air. While commuters with older vehicles may need to upgrade or relocate them outside Delhi, the shift to electric buses promises a greener future. As March 31 nears, the city braces for a cleaner, stricter era in its fight against pollution.