The Delhi government has issued a notification stating that the entry of buses, excluding those powered by CNG, BSVI diesel, and electric ones, will be regulated in the capital if restrictions from the final stage of the Center’s air pollution control plan, known as GRAP IV, are implemented.
Under the new regulations, all buses, including All India Tourist buses, Contract Carriage buses, State Transport Buses, or those with any other type of permit entering Delhi from other states, will face restrictions unless they are CNG, electric, or BSVI diesel buses. The restrictions automatically come into effect when GRAP IV is invoked, as per the official gazette notification. If GRAP IV is revoked, these restrictions cease automatically, and no separate order will be issued.
These regulations also apply to buses entering Delhi from the NCR regions of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. The transport department of the city government has specified that, starting July 1, all buses entering Delhi from cities or towns in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh must run on electricity, CNG, or BS-VI diesel.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Area, responsible for devising strategies to combat pollution, had earlier directed Delhi and NCR states to revoke emergency measures. These measures allowed only CNG, electric, and BS VI-compliant vehicles from other states to enter Delhi, with exemptions for essential services.
The air quality in the city worsened, reaching the “very poor” category with an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 394 at 9:05 am on Wednesday, up from 365 on Tuesday. The GRAP for the NCR has different stages based on air quality, ranging from “poor” to “severe,” with the corresponding AQI thresholds.
