New Delhi, India — In a decisive escalation against the national capital’s worsening air pollution crisis, Delhi authorities initiated strict enforcement on Saturday of a major ban restricting the entry of high-polluting commercial vehicles into the city.
The move, which had been mandated by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), saw joint teams from the Transport Department and Traffic Police deployed at 23 key border points to monitor and control vehicle entry.
The enforcement specifically targets non-Delhi registered commercial goods vehicles meeting BS-III or lower emission standards. This action is part of the ongoing Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage II measures, activated as the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remains in the “poor” to “very poor” categories following the Diwali season.
The Scale of the Restriction
The Transport Department estimates that the new regulation could affect between 50,000 to 70,000 vehicles currently operating below the BS-IV emission standards in the region.
Deployment teams are stationed at major entry points, including Kundli, Rajokri, Tikri, Aya Nagar, and Kalindi Kunj, ensuring compliance with the directive.
Vehicles that are exempt from the restrictions include:
- Commercial goods vehicles registered in Delhi.
- BS-VI compliant vehicles (the latest emission standards).
- Vehicles running on alternative fuels such as CNG, LNG, or electricity.
The strict check points are intended to immediately reduce vehicular emissions, a primary contributor to the toxic smog that continues to blanket the city, prompting global concerns over public health and climate policy.
