The Air Quality Management Commission (CAQM) has released a new policy to help reduce air pollution levels in Delhi and the surrounding National Capital Region (NCR). The new policy includes plans to control pollution levels from all sectors, from industrial plants to heavy generators and the auto sector. Apart from updating the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the CAQM also called for phase-out of all diesel autorickshaws currently plying in the neighboring NCR regions of Delhi by the end of 2026.
From the end of 2026, only electric and CNG autorickshaws will be allowed to ply in the NCR region.
Apart from Delhi, NCR also includes 14 districts of Haryana, 8 districts of Uttar Pradesh and 2 districts of Rajasthan. Diesel autos are set to be rolled out in a phased manner by the end of 2024, with Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddh Nagar in a phased manner. Diesel autos were already phased out or converted to CNG in Delhi, currently none are registered in Delhi. ,
See also: Around 1 million diesel vehicles may be banned in Delhi-NCR region if AQI exceeds 450
Additionally, the policy calls for registering only CNG and electric autorickshaws in the NCR region with effect from January 1, 2023. Further, the policy requires that all vehicles refueling at petrol pumps are first checked for valid Pollution Control (PUC) certificates. Fuel is being filled.
The policy also listed plans for further development of CNG and LNG fuel stations in the NCR region and on highways. The move aims to push the adoption of clean burning fuel in large commercial vehicles that primarily use diesel.
The CAQM has also updated its GRAP, which may ban the use of non-BS6 diesel vehicles in Delhi and NCR if the Air Quality Index (AQI) level deteriorates above 450. A lower level of AQI indicates healthy air quality.