From Nov 1, no entry in Delhi for transport vehicles flouting norms amid CAQM clampdown
The decision to restrict the transport vehicles, as per the directive, was made “considering the high pollution load from commercial vehicles and the associated ill effects of emissions owing to such vehicles entering Delhi…”
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Traffic congestion is likely due to the anticipated crowd movement and heavy vehicular load in the C-Hexagon and India Gate area.
Come November 1, all transport or commercial goods vehicles not compliant with BS-VI, CNG, LNG, or EV (electrical vehicle) standards will be banned from entering Delhi, unless the vehicles are registered in the Capital, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed. As the CAQM issued fresh directives on Wednesday to curb the menace of polluting vehicles, it also cited “limited progress” in impounding end-of-life or overaged vehicles across Delhi-NCR.
The decision to restrict the transport vehicles, as per the directive, was made “considering the high pollution load from commercial vehicles and the associated ill effects of emissions owing to such vehicles entering Delhi…”
From July 1, fueling of identified overaged vehicles will be banned across all fuel stations in the city, among other stringent measures announced by the CAQM.
This ban will extend to five high vehicle density (HVD) districts — Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar, and Sonipat— from November 1, and across the rest of NCR from April 1, 2026, as per the CAQM directive. Diesel vehicles, older than 10 years, and petrol vehicles, older than 15 years, are not allowed to ply in the Capital.
Over the last two years, the government has resorted to seizing these vehicles and scrapping them, if necessary. The Commission noted that despite several past orders, action on the ground has been sluggish.
Delhi has been piloting a solution involving Automated Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) camera systems, now being installed at all 520 fuel stations in the city.
These systems capture and display vehicle registration details in real-time. These are integrated with the centralised VAHAN database to identify EoL vehicles and those lacking a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC), and relay audio alerts when a non-compliant vehicle is detected.
All fuel stations in Delhi are required to install these systems, as per the Commission’s latest directive, by June 30, 2025; by October 31in the five HVD districts; and across the rest of NCR by March 31, 2026. “We will strictly follow the CAQM directions… 95% of the work is complete to install the ANPR cameras. The identification of polluting vehicles at the border entry points will also be intensified,” said Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Wednesday.
Earlier, the BJP government had planned to stop giving fuel to old vehicles by April 1, but pending structural changes at a few fuel stations delayed the implementation, said officials.
With respect to the restrictions on transport vehicles. exceptions will be made for vehicles carrying essential goods or services, but only until October 31, 2026, after which only CNG, LNG, EV or BS-VI diesel vehicles will be permitted. BS-VI, or Bharat Stage VI, is the latest set of emission standards in India for vehicles, which came into effect on April 1, 2020.
For liquidation of the large fleet of overage vehicles, the Commission directed that traffic surveillance cameras installed on major roads and the Integrated Command Control Centres for traffic management also need to be used for taking action against plying overaged vehicles.
The CAQM has said that the action based on the overaged vehicles needs to be reported by the agencies concerned to the Commission on a monthly basis, and quarterly action taken reports need to be furnished on action taken against polluting vehicles that enter Delhi.
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