Delhi govt gears up to enforce ban on refuelling overaged vehicles from April 1: Officials
New Delhi, Mar 21 (PTI): The Delhi government is gearing up to enforce a ban on refuelling overage petrol and diesel vehicles in the city starting April 1. Over 80 per cent of filling stations across the city will be equipped with devices to identify deregistered vehicles.
The automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras installed at petrol pumps will be capable of detecting both overaged vehicles and those lacking a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate, officials said.
Delhi has around 500 fuel pump stations, and the new systems are being implemented at these locations. When a vehicle that does not comply with the regulations comes in for refuelling, the system will flag it, prompting attendants to refuse refueling, officials added.
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa explained that enforcement will be strengthened through the use of modern technology, including emission-monitoring devices at petrol pumps. Vehicles without a valid PUC certificate will be flagged, and appropriate action will be taken.
"The devices are being installed at fuel pump stations throughout the city to identify vehicles not fulfilling norms. These new gadgets are already installed at over 80 per cent of the petrol pumps," he told reporters.
The Transport Department of the Delhi government deregistered over 59 lakh vehicles until September last year.
Diesel vehicles that have been on the road for 10 years after registration and petrol vehicles that have been on the road for 15 years are automatically deregistered from the Transport Department database, as per the directions of the National Green Tribunal.
Overaged vehicles, if found parked in public places or on the road, are seized by the Transport Department. The Delhi government has also introduced a policy offering incentives to owners of such vehicles for scrapping them, officials said.
In 2024, the government issued guidelines for handling end-of-life vehicles in public places. The guidelines state that impounded vehicles can only be released if the owner agrees to park them in private premises or gets them registered in another state after obtaining the necessary approvals.
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KSCA expresses disappointment over missing IPL playoffs, says it was ready to host matches in B’luru
Bengaluru: The Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA) has issued a clarification stating that it was fully prepared to host the IPL playoffs and final matches in Bengaluru but the fixtures were allotted to other venues.
In a media note, KSCA said it was disappointed with the decision. The association stated that its president, former India cricketer Venkatesh Prasad, had been in touch with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and had formally conveyed the association’s readiness and interest in hosting the matches at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium.
KSCA said the IPL matches held in Bengaluru this season were appreciated for smooth conduct, crowd management and overall experience for spectators. It said this reflected its ability to handle high-profile matches.
The association also stated that it had sent a detailed communication to the BCCI explaining its preparedness and the operational arrangements followed during the current IPL season. According to KSCA, these systems have been in place since the start of the Indian Premier League in 2008 and were followed consistently, including during previous playoff matches hosted in Bengaluru.
The clarification added that the communication sent to the BCCI was only meant to provide factual and operational details and to bring clarity on logistical and stakeholder-related requirements involved in hosting such matches.
KSCA said that although it had shown willingness and preparedness, the BCCI has decided to allocate the playoff matches to other venues. It added that the reasons for this decision have not been formally shared with the association, but it respects the authority of the board in taking such decisions.
The association further said it remains ready to host matches of national and international importance and will continue to cooperate with the BCCI, franchises, government authorities and other stakeholders for conducting cricket events.
The statement was issued by KSCA official spokesperson Vinay Mruthyunjaya, who also thanked the media and cricket fans for their continued support.
