The measure had required fuel stations to verify vehicle age through ANPR cameras, integrated with the VAHAN database, and deny fuel to non‑compliant vehicles—accompanied by impounding and scrappage under Direction No. 89 from the Commission for Air Quality Management. Initial enforcement saw around 80 vehicles seized and nearly 100 notices issued on day one, followed by fluctuating activity on subsequent days.
Sirsa highlighted several technical flaws: improper camera placement, malfunctioning sensors, unreliable speakers, and the absence of high-security registration plate recognition—all contributing to enforcement failure. He also noted that the VAHAN database does not track vehicles from neighbouring states, raising concerns that drivers could simply refuel outside Delhi, fostering a parallel market. He asserted that proceeding with a fragmented system would be "premature and potentially counter-productive".
The Delhi Petrol Dealers Association and fuel station employees reported confusion due to inadequate equipment and staff training, while enforcement teams emphasised that only 90% of petrol pumps fall under ANPR coverage. Surveys published on 3 July revealed that nearly 80% of Delhi vehicle owners oppose the ban, citing it as arbitrary and unfair to well-maintained vehicles.
Sirsa emphasised that Delhi will not proceed with vehicle seizures as part of this flawed approach. He proposed a revised system focused on emissions-based screening, targeting vehicles that fail pollution standards rather than relying on age alone. Delhi Water Minister Parvesh Verma echoed these concerns, urging a shift to real-time pollution data rather than blanket age restrictions.
Political reactions were swift. The Aam Aadmi Party criticised the sudden rollout and subsequent U‑turn, accusing the current government of mishandling the issue. Meanwhile, civil society groups and experts described the age-based ban as "brainless" and counterproductive, insisting on rigorous Vehicle Pollution Under Control checks.
Delhi High Court is now reviewing petitions from petrol pump owners and affected citizens, questioning the legality and feasibility of forcing dealers to refuse fuel. The pleas also challenge the punitive responsibilities imposed on petrol pump employees.
The CAQM had based the policy on a 2018 Supreme Court ruling upholding a decade‑old green tribunal directive aimed at curbing Delhi’s severe vehicular pollution, which affects over six million end-of-life vehicles in Delhi and NCR. However, enforcement has lagged until this month, triggering sudden backlash when put into action.
Delhi’s departure from the policy has reopened debates about the best way to regulate vehicular pollution. Observers suggest that broader regional cooperation, standardised emissions testing, and strengthening the scrappage scheme may prove more effective than an age-based ban alone.