The demonstration is scheduled to begin at noon, with Kejriwal planning to submit more than 250,000 petitions seeking changes to the E20 programme. Delhi Police have denied permission for the procession, raising the prospect that participants could be stopped or detained before reaching the prime minister’s residence.
Kejriwal has demanded that fuel retailers offer motorists a choice between conventional petrol and E20. He has also called for ethanol-blended petrol to be priced lower, arguing that its reduced energy content may affect mileage and increase the cost of operating older vehicles.
The former Delhi chief minister said motorists should not be compelled to use a fuel that their vehicles were not designed to handle. He has asked Modi for a meeting to discuss compatibility, maintenance expenses, insurance concerns and the absence of alternative petrol blends at filling stations.
The march follows a campaign that included an online petition and a national town hall at the Constitution Club of India. AAP has sought to turn dissatisfaction among vehicle owners into a wider consumer-rights issue, describing the policy as an example of environmental and energy objectives being pursued without adequate choice or transparency.
E20 contains 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. The nationwide transition forms part of the Ethanol Blended Petrol Programme, which aims to reduce crude oil imports, lower carbon emissions and expand demand for crops and agricultural residues used in ethanol production.
The government says the programme was introduced through phased testing involving automobile manufacturers, fuel companies and technical agencies. Petrol containing more than 15 per cent ethanol has been widely supplied for more than three years, while E19 and E20 blends have been in circulation for more than two years.
All petrol sold across the country is now required to meet the E20 standard. Bharat Stage VI vehicles manufactured from April 2026 must also comply fully with E20 emission and technical requirements.
Officials maintain that large-scale servicing and field data have not identified widespread engine failures, corrosion or shortened vehicle life caused by the fuel. More than 200 million two-wheelers and 30 million petrol cars are estimated to have operated on higher ethanol blends without verified evidence of systemic damage.
The government acknowledges that some vehicles designed for E10 may experience a reduction in fuel economy. Its estimates place the decline at about 3 per cent to 5 per cent, depending on engine design, driving conditions, maintenance and other factors.
That admission has become central to the opposition campaign. Kejriwal argues that motorists effectively pay more per kilometre when mileage falls, even if the retail price remains unchanged. He has questioned why consumers should not receive a price reduction reflecting the different energy content of the blended fuel.
AAP has also raised concerns about older vehicles whose manuals recommend petrol containing no more than 10 per cent ethanol. Although manufacturers and officials say such vehicles can use E20 without abnormal damage, critics contend that long-term effects, replacement costs and warranty terms require clearer public disclosure.
The government says E20 delivers a higher octane rating, cleaner combustion and improved anti-knock performance. It estimates that the ethanol programme has saved more than ₹1.97 trillion in foreign exchange, replaced nearly 31.6 million tonnes of crude oil and prevented about 95.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
Payments of more than ₹1.66 trillion have also been transferred to farmers and ethanol suppliers, making the programme an important component of agricultural and energy policy. Sugar mills, grain processors, distilleries and oil marketing companies have expanded capacity to meet demand.
Kejriwal has challenged claims that the programme primarily strengthens domestic agriculture. He has warned that rising demand could increase dependence on imported ethanol and has sought disclosure of procurement projections, pricing arrangements and the beneficiaries of supply contracts.
(IPA Service)
