With air quality in Delhi hovering at “severe” levels, the government has announced stringent restrictions on vehicle entry and refueling. From December 18, only BS-VI compliant vehicles from outside Delhi will be allowed entry, while vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates will be barred from refueling at petrol pumps.
Delhi continues to grapple with hazardous pollution levels, prompting authorities to impose fresh curbs aimed at reducing vehicular emissions. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa confirmed that the measures will take effect from Thursday, December 18, as part of emergency steps to combat worsening air quality.
Key Highlights:
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Entry Restrictions: Only BS-VI compliant vehicles from outside Delhi will be permitted to enter the city.
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Fuel Ban: Vehicles without a valid PUC certificate will not be allowed to refuel at petrol pumps.
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Compliance Window: Owners have been given one day to update their PUC certification before enforcement begins.
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Air Quality Status: Delhi’s AQI stood at 349 (“very poor”) on Tuesday, improving slightly from “severe plus” levels recorded earlier.
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Government Stand: Sirsa emphasized that while pollution has worsened recently, sustained efforts have kept overall air quality better than last year.
These measures highlight Delhi’s urgent push to curb vehicular emissions, a major contributor to winter smog, while reinforcing the need for stricter compliance and sustainable urban transport solutions.
Sources: LiveMint, Scroll, Deccan Herald, Economic Times, Jagran