The Delhi government will enforce a ban on non-BS-VI-compliant commercial goods vehicles entering the national capital starting November 1, 2025, as part of aggressive measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to combat winter air pollution. The directive, issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and detailed in a public notice from the Transport Department, targets vehicles registered outside Delhi that fail to meet Bharat Stage VI emission standards, which cap particulate matter and nitrogen oxide emissions at levels 80% lower than BS-IV norms.

With Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) already in the ‘poor’ category at 256 on October 28—driven by stubble burning, vehicular exhaust, and industrial fumes—the restriction aims to curb the influx of high-polluting trucks transiting through the city. The policy allows a one-year grace period for BS-IV diesel commercial vehicles, permitting entry until October 31, 2026, to ease logistical disruptions for interstate trade.

Exemptions apply to all Delhi-registered commercial vehicles, BS-VI diesel trucks, CNG/LNG-powered fleets, and electric vehicles, regardless of origin. Enforcement will involve 13 interstate border checkpoints equipped with RFID scanners and mobile squads, with violators facing fines up to ₹10,000 under the Motor Vehicles Act. Transport Minister Kailash Gahlot emphasised that over 1.5 lakh daily truck entries—40% non-compliant—contribute 30% of vehicular PM2.5, per a 2024 IIT Delhi study, making the ban critical ahead of expected smog peaks in November-December.

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The move aligns with CAQM’s Stage II GRAP activation on October 22, which also mandates dust mitigation at construction sites and bans coal usage in eateries. However, logistics firms warn of supply chain bottlenecks, predicting 10-15% cost hikes for essentials like vegetables and cement due to rerouting via peripheral motorways. The Delhi Goods Transport Association has urged subsidies for fleet upgrades, noting that BS-VI retrofits cost ₹3-5 lakh per vehicle. Environmentally, the policy could reduce 1,200 tonnes of annual pollutants, according to CSE estimates, but experts stress complementary actions like Punjab’s stubble management subsidies and NCR-wide odd-even schemes to sustain gains.

As enforcement looms, the ban underscores Delhi’s precarious battle against becoming the world’s most polluted capital, with 2024 recording 112 ‘severe’ AQI days. While transitional flexibility mitigates economic shock, long-term compliance hinges on affordable green financing and infrastructure—challenges that will test the capital’s resolve through another choking winter.

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