Delhi steps up NCR coordination to curb winter pollution

The Delhi government has intensified coordination with neighbouring National Capital Region (NCR) districts to tackle winter air pollution, with Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Sunday reviewing measures to ease congestion at border points and strengthen enforcement against polluting vehicles.

According to an official statement, Sirsa chaired a high-level meeting with senior traffic police and police officials from Delhi, Noida, Faridabad, Gurugram, Sonipat and Bahadurgarh to assess preparedness for implementing pollution-control measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

Emphasising that air pollution was a regional problem requiring coordinated intervention, Sirsa said effective border management, smoother traffic movement, cleaner public transport and action against non-compliant vehicles would remain central to Delhi's winter pollution-control strategy.

𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗯𝗼𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻

The meeting focused on synchronising traffic movement across NCR borders and deploying adequate personnel at congestion-prone locations to reduce vehicular emissions caused by prolonged traffic jams.

Participating agencies discussed stricter enforcement of Pollution Under Control (PUC) norms, including action against visibly polluting vehicles.

Officials were directed to ensure compliance with restrictions on heavy vehicles, particularly trucks passing through Delhi without having the national capital as their destination.

Such vehicles will be diverted through the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways to minimise unnecessary heavy-vehicle movement within the city.

The meeting also reviewed enforcement of restrictions on overage diesel and petrol vehicles, along with other non-compliant vehicles, in accordance with applicable court orders and regulations.

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗻𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀

The government reiterated that buses operating in Delhi-NCR from cities and towns outside the national capital must comply with prescribed fuel and emission standards.

According to the statement, buses other than electric, CNG or BS-VI-compliant diesel vehicles will not be permitted to operate in the region under applicable directions.

Officials also discussed awareness campaigns encouraging commuters to use public transport as part of efforts to reduce vehicular emissions.

Display boards will be installed at border checkpoints to inform motorists and interstate transport operators about applicable restrictions and compliance requirements.

𝟭𝟬,𝟬𝟬𝟬 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗻𝘀 𝗱𝗮𝗶𝗹𝘆

Delhi Traffic Police informed the meeting that enforcement against traffic and pollution-related violations had been intensified.

According to the official statement, more than 10,000 challans were being issued daily on average under the ongoing enforcement drive.

The meeting also discussed deploying additional enforcement teams as further restrictions under the Winter Action Plan and GRAP come into force.

Officials emphasised real-time information sharing among enforcement agencies to facilitate prompt action against non-compliant vehicles entering or moving across NCR borders.

The coordinated approach is aimed at improving enforcement efficiency and preventing delays in implementing pollution-control restrictions.

𝗗𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗹 𝗺𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀

Alongside measures targeting vehicular emissions, the Delhi government will intensify dust-control operations across the city.

These will include water sprinkling, mechanical road sweeping, dust suppression activities and cleanliness drives.

The government said coordination among Delhi and neighbouring NCR authorities would remain an important component of its strategy to control pollution during the winter months.