Latest news with #RiteshGandotra
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Automotive
- Indian Express
Delhi man sells Rs 55 lakh SUV for a ‘throwaway price' due to… : ‘Penalty on common sense'
A Delhi resident, Ritesh Gandotra, recently had to part ways with his luxury Range Rover SUV–not by choice, but because of the National Capital Region's strict enforcement of the 10-year diesel vehicle ban. Gandotra, who bought the high-end car in 2018 for Rs 55 lakh, said it had been 'meticulously maintained,' and had just 74,000 km on the odometer. The SUV had also spent nearly two years idle during the Covid-19 pandemic-induced lockdowns, meaning it still had plenty of life left in it. 'Easily over two lakh km,' he claimed. But under Delhi's current End-of-Life (EoL) policy, diesel vehicles older than ten years must be deregistered–regardless of condition. That left Gandotra with no option but to sell it outside the NCR at what he called 'throwaway prices.' He voiced his frustration on X, writing: 'This isn't a green policy. It's a penalty on responsible ownership and common sense.' यह मेरी 8 साल पुरानी डीजल Range Rover कार है। यह अब तक मात्र 74,000 किलोमीटर चली है। Covid के दौरान यह 2 साल तक खड़ी रही, अब दिल्ली में 10 साल से ज़्यादा की डीजल कार पर बैन के कारण मुझे यह बेचनी पड़ेगी, जबकि अभी यह Car आराम से 2 लाख किलोमीटर और भी चल सकती है, मगर अब मैं इसे… — Jaiky Yadav (@JaikyYadav16) July 2, 2025 Though Gandotra later deleted the post, it had already sparked widespread discussion. Several users on social media weighed in, echoing his concerns. One user commented, 'The government's rule is very wrong. No matter how old a vehicle gets, if the maintenance is proper, it can run for 50 years.' Another pointed to the financial hit car owners take under this policy, saying, 'Selling an old but well-maintained car and paying a hefty tax on a new one — this is the irony of Delhi-NCR's diesel policy.' Others brought up broader urban planning issues. 'If you really want to make Delhi clean and pollution-free, build a system where people don't need a personal vehicle,' one user suggested. 'Just imagine Delhi without the Metro — we'd be suffocating under traffic and pollution.'
News18
2 days ago
- Automotive
- News18
Delhi Man ‘Forced To Sell' Range Rover For ‘Peanuts' After New Diesel Vehicle Rule
Last Updated: The Delhi government has imposed a ban on the refuelling of end-of-life vehicles to combat pollution. Petrol pumps across Delhi have now stopped refuelling end-of-life (EoL) vehicles, following orders from the Commission for Air Quality Management. While the move is aimed at curbing vehicular pollution in the city, it has also created serious challenges for many four-wheeler owners, especially those with well-maintained older vehicles. One such case is that of Delhi resident Ritesh Gandotra, who was forced to part ways with his diesel-powered luxury SUV. Gandotra owned an eight-year-old Range Rover that had been carefully preserved, having clocked only 74,000 km since purchase. The car remained parked for two years during the Covid lockdown and, according to him, still had over 2 lakh km of potential life left. In a now-deleted post on X (formerly Twitter), Gandotra expressed his frustration, stating that due to the 10-year diesel vehicle ban in the National Capital Region (NCR), he had no choice but to sell the car at a throwaway price, and only to buyers outside the NCR. Gandotra also called out the addition of 45 per cent GST charges upon buying new vehicles, calling it a penalty on responsible ownership and common sense. While Gandotra has now deleted the post, it was not before social media users shared their reactions. Many supported his stance on the policy, while others urged the government to adopt a more practical policy instead of such limits. One wrote, 'This rule of banning old cars in Delhi needs some changes… No one seems happy there, and even outside… I too feel it is bad unless govt do something like giving good money for old cars or less or no taxes for old car owners who want to buy a new car.. Something should be done." This comes at a time in a larger section of internet users have been calling out any government decision to ban old vehicles. 'We pay EMIs for 7 years, maintain the car like family, use it for barely 10 years… And then? The government says, 'Scrap it.' No check. No resale. No value. Just crushed—like our savings and dreams," a comment read. My friend from Delhi just called me he was crying. 💔 Today his 10 year old diesel car, loved like a family member, is banned. No fuel. No mercy. Cameras will scan it, fines will fall, it could be towed like maintained it like his own blood. That car carried their…— DANISH MEHR (@DANISH__MEHR) July 1, 2025 In a similar instance, Varun Vij, an owner of a Mercedes-Benz ML350, was also forced to sell his car for just Rs 2.5 lakh due to the new rule. Another story of a man who sold his old diesel car, which he loved like a family member, has also added fuel to the ongoing discussions.
NDTV
3 days ago
- Automotive
- NDTV
Delhi Man Says "Forced To Sell Range Rover" For Peanuts Due To 10-Year Rule
New Delhi: A Delhi man was forced to sell his luxury SUV due to the government's newly enforced "end of life" (EoL) vehicle policy in the national capital. Ritesh Gandotra, the owner of an 8-year-old diesel Range Rover car, said the vehicle was parked for two years during the Covid lockdown and has over two lakh km of potential life left. On X, Mr Gandotra said that his premium car was a well-maintained vehicle with just 74,000 km on the odometer. Now, he is forced to sell his vehicle, which he bought for Rs 55 lakh in 2018, at a throwaway price due to the diesel ban. He wrote, "My car is in its 8th year, a diesel vehicle, meticulously maintained, with just 74,000 km on the odo. It spent two years parked during Covid and easily has over 2 lakh km of life left. But thanks to the 10-year diesel ban in NCR, I'm now forced to sell it and that too to buyers outside NCR, offering throwaway prices." The new vehicle in the same segment now comes with a steep cost, he said. Mr Gandotra wrote, "To make it worse, buying a new one comes with 45% GST + cess. This isn't a green policy. It's a penalty on responsible ownership and common sense." My car is in its 8th year — a diesel vehicle, meticulously maintained, just 74,000 km on the odo. It spent two years parked during Covid and easily has over 2 lakh km of life left. But thanks to the 10-year diesel ban in NCR, I'm now forced to sell it — and that too to buyers… — Ritesh G (@Ritesh_Gandotra) July 1, 2025 Many social media users called the policy "unfair" and urged the authorities to adopt a more practical policy instead of blanket age limits. One person commented, "I would like PM Modi ji to personally look into the public plight. This rule of banning old cars in Delhi really needs some changes. No one seems happy there n even outside. Personally, I too feel it is bad unless govt does something like giving good money for old cars or less or no taxes for old car owners who want to buy a new car. Something should be done." I will like @narendramodi ji to personally look into public plight.. This rule of banning old cars in Delhi really needs some changes.. No one seems happy there n even outside.. Personally I too feel it is bad unless govt does something like giving good money for old car or less… — Crime Master Gogo (PARODY) ???????? (@vipul2777) July 1, 2025 Another wrote, "Instead of enforcing a blanket age limit, a fitness or emission test-based model (like in Europe) could better balance the environment and fairness." Instead of enforcing a blanket age limit, a fitness or emission test-based model (like in Europe) could better balance the environment and fairness... — Choice! (@ChoiceQuotient) July 1, 2025 "That's basically a cartel forcing you to purchase a new vehicle unnecessarily so that they earn more taxes. A very sly but lazy policy to boost tax collection by forced sale of new vehicles," wrote the next. That's basically a cartel forcing you to purchase a new vehicle unnecessarily so that they earn more taxes. A very sly but lazy policy to boost tax collection by forced sale of new vehicles. — Nomad9 (@hamza_mshaikh) July 2, 2025 The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced a ban on refuelling diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, effective from July 1, even if they pass fitness tests. Automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras have been installed in more than 350 Delhi fuel stations to identify non-compliant cars instantly. According to CAQM, around 62 lakh vehicles were EOL, comprising 41 lakh two-wheelers and 18 lakh four-wheelers.
Hindustan Times
3 days ago
- Automotive
- Hindustan Times
Delhi man forced to sell Range Rover at 'throwaway prices' due to 10-year diesel ban
A Delhi man says he is being forced to sell his 'meticulously maintained' Range Rover at throwaway prices due to the city's ban on diesel vehicles older than 10 years. Ritesh Gandotra joined hundreds of other Delhiites in calling for a policy rethink, saying Delhi NCR's ban on old vehicles – purportedly to tackle air pollution – does little more than inconvenience honest tax-paying citizens. A Delhi man says he's been forced to sell his Range Rover at a low price (X/@Ritesh_Gandotra) In his post shared on the social media platform X, Gandotra shared a photograph of his Land Rover Range Rover – an SUV currently in its eighth year. His post was shared on July 1, the day that Delhi's ban on providing fuel to end of life vehicles (EoL) came into force. Under this ban, vehicles that have exceeded the life span of 10 years for diesel vehicles and 15 years for petrol vehicles will not be provided fuel at petrol pumps. Delhi man rues 10-year diesel ban In his X post, Gandotra said his Range Rover has only clocked 74,000 km on the odometer. Although it is currently in its 8th year, the car spent two years in the parking lot during the pandemic. The Delhi man described it as a 'meticulously maintained' vehicle that 'easily has over 2 lakh km of life left.' Despite this, Gandotra is being forced to sell the Range Rover at a very low price to buyers outside Delhi NCR. 'But thanks to the 10-year diesel ban in NCR, I'm now forced to sell it — and that too to buyers outside NCR, offering throwaway prices,' he wrote on X. Delhi man slams policy on old cars The Delhi-based executive slammed the policy that forces car owners to sell or scrap vehicles in perfect condition. 'This isn't green policy. It's a penalty on responsible ownership and common sense,' he wrote, adding the hastag #policyflaw. He also noted how buying a new car has become exorbitant, thanks to 45% GST plus cess charges. Gandotra's post echoes the sentiments of thousands of other people who have criticised the ban. One X post, for example, reads: 'Delhi's absurd ELV policy is a brutal scam. Forcing 90% of Indians,scraping by on under ₹ 25K/month, to ditch their cars every 10-15 years is pure extortion.' 'In a country where 90% people are earning less than 25K rs per month, forcing them to sell their cars every 10-15 years is nothing but criminal,' reads another post.
