Facing public outrage and technical hurdles, the Delhi government has decided not to impound overage vehicles - those older than 10 years for diesel and 15 years for petrol. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed that enforcement of the ban is on hold, citing widespread opposition, livelihood concerns, and major implementation gaps.

A key issue was the failure of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at fuel stations, which are unable to accurately detect vehicles due to unreadable number plates and system glitches. Additionally, there is no coordination with neighboring NCR regions, raising fears of "pollution tourism" where vehicles refuel just outside city limits.

Instead of age-based bans, the government now plans to adopt an emissions-based approach. Vehicles will be judged on the actual pollution they emit rather than their registration year. Delhi has also requested the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to suspend the earlier directive mandating the crackdown.

This marks a shift toward a more practical and equitable pollution control policy, balancing environmental goals with public convenience.