In a major policy U-turn aimed at easing inconvenience for citizens and addressing the growing problem of pollution and clutter, the Delhi Transport Department has lifted the one-year restriction on applying for No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs).
The decision, announced on Thursday by Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh, is expected to provide significant relief to potentially millions of owners whose diesel vehicles (over 10 years old) and petrol vehicles (over 15 years old) were rendered useless following their deregistration.
The Policy Shift
The move essentially holds in abeyance a clause from the Guidelines for Handling End of Life Vehicles in Public Places of Delhi, 2024. This relaxation now allows owners to seek NOCs for re-registration in other states, regardless of how long ago their vehicle’s registration expired.
- Minister’s Rationale: Transport Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh explained the dual benefit of the decision: “By removing the one-year limit, we’re helping citizens move their old vehicles out of Delhi responsibly, easing congestion and improving air quality.”
- Compliance: Officials confirmed that the order is in compliance with earlier circulars issued in 2021 and 2022, which were themselves based on National Green Tribunal (NGT) guidelines.
Addressing a Major Bottleneck
The previous requirement—that vehicle owners must apply for an NOC within one year of their registration expiry—had created significant logistical problems for Delhi residents.
- Vehicles Stranded: Officials noted that this deadline led to many ELVs being “stuck in limbo” within the city, unable to be legally scrapped or transferred out of state.
- Public Hazard and Clutter: Residents who missed the narrow NOC window were unable to legally re-register their vehicles elsewhere. As a result, these deregistered vehicles remained parked in colonies, public spaces, and parking lots, adding to both visual clutter and environmental hazards.
- Expected Impact: Singh anticipates the change will lead to a significant clear-out: “The one-year cap had created an unintended bottleneck… With this relaxation, we expect a large number of such vehicles to find proper relocation or re-registration outside NCR, which will help clean up the city’s vehicular footprint.”
The transport department estimates that around six million ELVs have been deregistered by the transport department up to last year, with about six lakh of those already scrapped. The immediate effect of the notification is expected to benefit millions of vehicle owners waiting to move their assets.