Vehicle ban in Delhi from November 1, only exempted categories to be allowed entry

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The government has taken a significant decision to control the rising air pollution in the capital, Delhi. According to a notification issued by the Transport Department, all non-BS-6 and BS-4 registered commercial goods vehicles will be completely banned from entering Delhi from November 1. This step has been taken under the guidelines of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which was issued in view of the serious situation of air pollution in Delhi-NCR.

These vehicles will be banned in Delhi from November 1; only these special vehicles will be allowed entry into the city: The notification states that to improve air quality, non-Delhi registered light, medium and heavy goods vehicles that do not conform to the BS-VI standard will not be allowed to enter Delhi. This ban will be permanent and violators will be prosecuted.

The Transport Department has clarified that BS-4 commercial diesel vehicles have been granted entry for a limited period, until October 31, 2026. After that, this exemption will expire. This means that after October 31, 2026, only BS-VI or clean fuel vehicles such as CNG, LNG, and electric vehicles will be permitted to enter the capital.

The department also stated that additional restrictions under GRAP may be implemented in a phased manner, depending on the pollution situation. According to the Joint Commissioner of the Transport Department, this decision is a major step towards cleaning Delhi's air and controlling pollution levels during the winter.

Rajendra Kapoor, president of the All India Motor and Goods Transport Association, stated that after a long-standing demand, BS-4 vehicles have been granted permission to operate until October 31, 2026. However, BS-3 vehicles will remain completely banned. Currently, there are approximately 7,000 to 10,000 BS-3 cargo vehicles in Delhi, which will no longer be permitted entry. He stated that the ban should remain in effect only as long as the pollution problem persists, after which all types of vehicles should be allowed entry.

Dr. Anil Kumar Chhikara, a transportation expert and former Deputy Commissioner of the Delhi Transport Department, stated that the pollution levels of BS-4 and BS-6 vehicles were not significantly different. This report was submitted to the Air Quality Management Commission, after which BS-4 vehicles were granted a limited period of exemption. The Commission will now study the pollution caused by these vehicles until October 31, 2026, and will then decide whether to impose a permanent ban on BS-4 vehicles or allow them to operate.