New Delhi [India], July 9 (ANI): Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta welcomed the Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) decision to stay the implementation of the policy regarding end-of-life (EOL) vehicles in the national capital till November 1, stating that the Delhi government had raised the concerns of the people and the commission took cognisance of it.

Speaking to reporters, CM Rekha Gupta said, 'The previous governments never understood this problem being faced by the people. They neither worked on pollution nor on policy. When the CAQM decided to issue this order and the decision of the Court was also included in the order, we had put forward the problem being faced by the people of Delhi, and they should not face injustice. Taking cognisance of our stand, they have put this order on hold till 1 November 2025, and we will also work towards giving relief to the people of Delhi... All this chaos was created by the previous government and our government will work towards solving it.'

The CAQM stated that 'All End of Life (EOL) vehicles shall be denied fueling w.e.f. November 1, 2025, in the NCT of Delhi and 5 high vehicle density districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and Sonipat and w.e.f. April 01, 2026, in the rest of NCR.'

The decision comes a day after Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa flagged the issue and highlighted the Delhi government's request to the Centre for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to delay the implementation of the order. The request was made citing implementation-related challenges.

The 24th meeting of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas was held at its office at Tolstoy Marg. During the meeting, the issue related to the implementation of Direction No. 89, as raised by the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD), was deliberated upon.

According to the official statement issued by CAQM, Direction No. 89 will be amended to allow EOL vehicles to continue receiving fuel from pumps till November 1, 2025.

'The 24th meeting of the Commission for Air Quality in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) was held today, during which issue related to the implementation of Direction No. 89 as flagged by GNCTD was deliberated upon,' the statement read.

The Delhi government, in a letter dated July 3, had flagged 'some operational and infrastructural challenges' in the implementation of Direction No. 89, dated April 23, 2025.

The letter pointed out that the Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) system lacked the 'requisite robustness, citing technological glitches, improper camera placement, malfunctioning sensors and speakers, and the lack of full integration with the database of neighbouring NCR states.'

Earlier on Monday, in an interview with ANI, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa flagged 'challenges and implementation flaws' in the CAQM order that put a ban on fuel for end-of-life vehicles in the national capital, stating that the process should be fair.

The Delhi Minister stated that there are operational and infrastructural challenges in implementing the Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) directions regarding the fuel ban on end-of-life vehicles. (ANI)