In a move to tackle the high pollution load from commercial vehicles entering Delhi, the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday issued an order banning on entry of all vehicles from November 1, 2025. Only BS-VI diesel, CNG, LNG and electric goods vehicles, including Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs), Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs) and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), will be allowed entry into Delhi from that date, the commission said in an order. The CAQM said the order will apply to all such vehicles registered outside Delhi.
The Commission has also issued order not to give fuel to End of Life (EoL) vehicles, identified through the Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras or other such systems installed at the fuel pump stations from June 1, 2025 in Delhi and Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and sonipat will ban the fuel from November 1, 2025 and from April 1, 2026, it will be applicable in the rest of the national capital region.
According to experts, transport is the key contributors to air pollution in Delhi. There were 79.5 lakh vehicles registered as of March 31, 2023. Of these, 20.7 lakh were private cars. The total number of vehicles registered in Delhi was 1.2 crore, with 33.8 lakh being private cars, as per the Delhi Statistical Handbook 2023. The ever-growing vehicular traffic in Delhi - NCR has been a prime contributor to the enhanced vehicular emissions in the region and such large number of vehicles also cause traffic congestions and jams at major intersections and critical public places, thereby further enhancing the pollutant load from vehicular emissions.
“Such non-BS-VI compliant transport/commercial goods vehicles’ carrying essential commodities / providing essential services shall’ however’ be permitted to enter Delhi, but only for a limited period up to October 31, 2026 beyond which goods /services shall also have to be catered only through CNG / LNG / BV / BS-VI diesel vehicles’. Transport Department/ Traffic Police in Delhi & the NCR States may accordingly widely disseminate this direction amongst all stakeholders and ensure strict compliance w.e.f. 01.1 1 -2025 through effective implementation/enforcement measures at all border entry points to Delhi and regular monitoring/review of the same’ Quarterly Reports on the action taken by the concerned agencies shall be furnished to commission,†reads the order.
However, non-BS VI vehicles carrying essential commodities or providing essential services will be granted temporary exemption until October 31, 2026. After that, even essential services must switch to cleaner fuels.
The CAQM said commercial vehicles, especially older diesel ones, significantly contribute to Delhi-NCR’s air pollution, particularly during winter. The decision is aligned with the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which already restricts entry of polluting vehicles during high-pollution days. The commission has directed the transport departments and traffic police in Delhi and neighbouring states to ensure strict enforcement of this order at all 126 border entry points and 52 toll plazas equipped with Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras. Quarterly compliance reports must be submitted by all implementing agencies, the CAQM said.
There is no restriction on entry of Diesel goods vehicles to BS-VI standards and all vehicles running on LNG, CNG or electric vehicles into Delhi at any point in time of the year.
“WHEREAS, the ever-growing vehicular traffic in Delhi — NCR has been a prime contributor to the enhanced vehicular emissions in the region and such large number of vehicles also cause traffic congestions and jams at major intersections and critical public places, thereby further enhancing the pollutant load from vehicular emissions;
“Whereas, within the vehicular sector, while transport/commercial goods vehicles are generally reported to be utilised extensively, these are often poorly maintained and thus are significantly high on emissions; WHEREAS, it has been established through various assessment studies that all classes of transport/commercial goods vehicles — LGVs’ MGVs and FIGVs particularly those with pre-BS-VI standards have significantly higher emission potential and these while passing through NCR areas and moving into Delhi contribute adversely to the overall vehicular pollution load in the entire NCR,†it said.
On the barring fuel to overaged vehicles, the Commission ordered not to give fuel to such vehicles ( End of Life-EoL) vehicles, identified through the Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras or other such systems installed at the fuel pump stations from June 1, 2025 in Delhi and Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Budh Nagar and sonipat will ban the fuel from November 1, 2025 and from April 1, 2026, it will be applicable in the rest of the national capital region. ‘ Immediate iegal action should be taken in respect of such BoL vehicles, including impounding and further disposal in accordance with RVSF Rules, 2021 and other extant policies of the respective State Governments and the GNCTD. There are 61, 14,728 overaged vehicles in Delhi; 27,50,152 in Haryana; 12,69,598 in UP and 6,20,962 in Rajasthan.
“Traffic surveillance cameras installed on major roads which facilitate the traffic police to challan vehicles for traffic violations and the Integrated Command Control Centers for traffic management in NCR cities/districts shall also be used for supplementing action against EoL vehicles found plying on roads, using camera feeds from strategic traffic points/ intersections. Transport Department of GNCTD and the NCR States may accordingly widely disseminate this direction amongst all stakeholders including fuel stations and ensure its strict compliance through effective implementation / enforcement measures,†it said.
