The Commission for Air Quality Management has banned the entry of all non-Delhi-registered BS-III and below-standard commercial goods vehicles into the national capital starting Saturday, November 1. (Image Source: Pinterest)
The Commission for Air Quality Management has banned the entry of all non-Delhi-registered BS-III and below-standard commercial goods vehicles into the national capital starting Saturday, November 1. The move is targeted at tackling deteriorating poor air quality in Delhi and the surrounding cities.
In a statement, the Commission said the decision is part of broader efforts to reduce vehicular emissions, which are among the main causes of the city's severe air pollution during winter.
BS refers to Bharat Stage emission standards; the latest one is BS-VI or BS-6, a Government of India rule to keep vehicle-related air pollution in check. These standards reflect the maximum quantity of pollutants an engine can emit, and with every higher version, it gets more stringent.
This order prohibits the entry of LGVs, MGVs, and HGVs not registered in Delhi and failing to meet the BS-IV standards.
The directive says that BS-IV-compliant commercial goods-carrying vehicles would be allowed to enter Delhi up to October 31, 2026.
To implement this, several teams from the Transport Department and Traffic Police will be deployed, officials told PTI. The Transport Department, along with the Traffic Police, has formed 23 teams for enforcement.
“There are 23 points from where 90 percent of the vehicles enter Delhi. There are 23 teams that have been formed. These include traffic police personnel and enforcement officers of the transport department. They will be deployed at designated locations and will turn back vehicles not meeting norms,” the official told the news agency.
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The 23 locations are the Kundli border, Rajokri border, Tikri border, Aya Nagar border, Kalindi Kunj border, Auchandi, Mandoli, Kapashera, and Bajghera Toll/Dwarka Expressway.
Each team will be led by an inspector-level officer. An estimated 50,000 to 70,000 vehicles in the region do not meet BS-IV standards, according to the official.
The order also said there would be no restrictions on the entry of commercial goods vehicles registered in Delhi and those running on CNG, LNG, or electricity.
The order has also permitted BS-VI-compliant petrol and diesel vehicles to enter without any restrictions throughout the year. Meanwhile, Delhi's air quality saw a slight improvement on Friday morning but continued to remain in the "poor" category.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the national capital recorded an AQI of 268, categorized as 'poor,' at 8 am on Friday.
Also Read: Delhi Faces Very Poor Air Quality: Artificial Rain Planned on October 29
