On Day 1 of Delhi traffic curbs, roads from Jaipur, Surajkund see more toll collectors than cops

“Are BS-IV vehicles registered in Delhi also banned?” one policeman asked his colleague.

From Surajkund & Jaipur: More toll collectors than cops

Kapashera border: (Express photo by Abhimanyu Hazarika)

The Indian Express visited the Delhi-Haryana border at Kapashera, Sarhol (Delhi Jaipur Expressway), M G Road, and Surajkund Road (Faridabad-Delhi) through Thursday, and found toll collectors deployed by the MCD and NHAI everywhere. However, Delhi Police personnel to check the entry of non-compliant vehicles into the capital were present only at Kapashera and M G Road.

At Kapashera, the police officials seemed unsure of the details of the restrictions that had been imposed. “Are BS-IV vehicles registered in Delhi also banned?” one policeman asked his colleague.

The traffic was heavy and not every car could be stopped. However, around 4.30 pm, a zonal traffic sub-inspector told The Indian Express that at least 10 cars had been made to turn around, and more than 30 had been challaned. “We are checking the vehicles we suspect, even the CNG and BS-VI ones, for valid PUCCs,” he said.

As The Indian Express watched, a Maruti Alto was pulled aside on suspicion of being old, and its number was entered into the handheld challan machine. The emissions standard checked out, but the pollution certificate had expired. The driver was let off with instructions to get a valid PUCC immediately.

On M G Road, as three Delhi Police officials stopped and checked vehicles, a minor traffic jam resulted at the border U-turn. But on the toll roads at Sarhol and Badarpur, there were no police.

No one checked vehicles for non-compliance with pollution norms at Surajkund Road leading to Tughlakabad via the Asola Bhatti sanctuary either. Everywhere, commercial vehicles zipped past, without being checked whether they were CNG or BS-VI compliant.

Abhimanyu Hazarika: Reporter, The Indian Express

Abhimanyu Hazarika is a dedicated Reporter for The Indian Express, focusing on critical coverage of Gurgaon and southern Haryana. His journalistic track record includes roles at prominent news organizations such as Bar & Bench and Frontline, providing him with a strong foundation in both legal and political reporting. Abhimanyu’s reporting demonstrates deep expertise in urban law and order, civic infrastructure, local politics, and public interest matters. His work frequently involves covering high-stakes topics, including: In-depth reporting on fatal road accidents and highway safety. Investigations into local law enforcement actions, such as arrests in white-collar crimes and gang activity. Scrutiny of civic body decisions, including dog sterilization contracts and fire safety enforcement. He holds a strong academic background that underpins his work, including a post-graduate diploma in print media from the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ) (Class of 2020). He also majored in Political Science during his undergraduate studies at the Symbiosis School for Liberal Arts (Class of 2019). His educational rigor and focus on political context enhance the trustworthiness and quality of his regional coverage. He tweets at @AB_Hazardous ... Read More

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