Delhi-NCR to phase out petrol, diesel cars by 2035: Report

Discussions are currently taking place within the central government to address Delhi's air pollution issue by gradually phasing out all diesel and petrol vehicles in Delhi-NCR and replacing them with battery electric, hybrid, and CNG vehicles, according to a report in The Economic Times.

New vehicle registrations could be restricted to cleaner fuels soon, starting with buses by 2025, and eventually extending to all vehicles by 2035, the report said.

This comes weeks after the Maharashtra government formed a seven-member committee to investigate the potential of prohibiting petrol and diesel vehicles within the Mumbai Metropolitan Area (MMA) to check the deteriorating air quality in Mumbai.

In 2023, the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas said the government is yet to accept the report by the Energy Transition Advisory Committee (ETAC) which proposed a ban on diesel-run four-wheelers by 2027 in cities with a population of more than a million.

The Energy Transition Advisory Committee (ETAC), formed by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, aims to create a roadmap for India's energy transition, focusing on achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 and increasing the adoption of clean energy solutions.

ETAC has made wide-ranging and forward-looking recommendations for a shift to low-carbon energy and has a futuristic outlook, the petroleum ministry had said, adding that India is committed to Net Zero by 2070. The suggestions of ETAC relate to multiple ministries and a range of stakeholders including states, the oil ministry said. “Consultation with various stakeholders on the report are yet to be initiated. No decision has yet been taken on #ETAC recommendations,” it said. The oil ministry’s panel, headed by former petroleum secretary Tarun Kapoor, further said that no diesel-powered city buses should be added from 2024 in urban areas. “CNG may continue till 2035, but diesel buses for city transport should not be added from 2024 onwards,” said ETAC.