Delhi: Heavy smog shrouded key entry points into the national capital on Thursday, with the Delhi-Noida DND Flyway witnessing extremely poor visibility as air quality levels slipped into the “hazardous” range. At the Chilla border, the Air Quality Index (AQI) hovered close to 490, prompting authorities to step up enforcement under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Transport and traffic officials intensified inspections of vehicles entering Delhi, focusing on emission compliance. Non-BS VI private and commercial vehicles registered outside the capital were either denied entry or issued steep penalties. Officials confirmed that violators are being fined up to ₹20,000 or asked to return from the border.
To facilitate checks, police barricades were installed to slow traffic, allowing enforcement teams to verify emission standards and Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates. Officers on duty said older vehicles lacking the mandatory blue BS-VI stickers were being flagged for inspection. Vehicles exceeding the age limit—10 years for diesel and 15 years for petrol—were also stopped if they failed to meet emission norms.
Motorists expressed frustration over the sudden enforcement. Rakesh, a resident of Faridabad whose BS-III vehicle was stopped, questioned the effectiveness of the measures. “We are paying the price while larger pollution sources remain unchecked. There should be uniform monitoring, including public transport,” he said.
Officials explained that digital tools are being used on the ground, with portable devices allowing instant verification of a vehicle’s registration details, emission category and PUC validity.
According to official estimates, vehicular emissions account for a significant share of Delhi-NCR’s winter air pollution. Of the nearly 2.9 crore vehicles in the region, a large portion consists of older models that emit substantially higher levels of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide compared to BS-VI vehicles.
Transport department officials said awareness and strict enforcement are both essential. “People must understand the role of vehicles in air pollution. Enforcement teams are deployed across all entry points, and attempts to bypass checks will not work,” an officer said.
Experts, however, stress that border restrictions alone are not enough. They argue that stronger scrappage policies, improved public transport and better pollution monitoring systems are necessary to address emissions that travel across city and state boundaries.
As Delhi continues to grapple with toxic air, authorities maintain that the current restrictions are unavoidable, urging commuters to cooperate and opt for cleaner transport options wherever possible.
