Like many families in the Delhi NCR region, our first family car — an indispensable part of our history — faces its unexpected end this November. A testament to my father's hard work and the ridiculously high taxes he paid, it’s a car that’s served us through the years. But now, the government deems it unfit for the road just because it has reached an arbitrary age of 15 years solely based on its registration date.

This move is not just personal but also ignites a broader conversation about a policy decision that is both, ineffective in combating air pollution and damaging to those who respect and maintain their vehicles well. A study from the Environmental Defense Fund suggests that merely 15% of vehicle pollution is contributed by cars, implying that targeting them alone won't bring drastic change. Such blanket bans disregard the condition of well-maintained older vehicles that can run as clean or cleaner than poorly-serviced newer cars.

This ban on diesel cars older than 10 years and petrol cars older than 15 years disregards the financial impact on middle-class families who can't afford to frequently upgrade their vehicles, and undermines the value of maintaining cars well. Inefficient public transport or expensive private cabs as alternatives are not viable solutions for many households that rely on their cars daily.

We must bring this concern to light and fight back against this unfair rule. It's time to revise the policy in favour of a more comprehensive solution inclusive of robust vehicle testing, standardized maintenance practices and holistic environmental measures. Sign our petition to urge the Delhi government to reconsider this decision. The voices of thousands of families like ours cannot and should not be dismissed.