Commission for Air Quality Management has announced a major clean mobility push for Delhi-NCR, unveiling a phased plan that will eventually allow only electric three-wheelers in the region while tightening rules for vehicles operating without valid pollution certificates. Under the new directive, only electric L5 category auto-rickshaws will be eligible for registration in Delhi from January 1, 2027.
The rollout will later expand to high vehicle-density NCR districts including Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar from January 1, 2028, before covering the remaining NCR districts from January 1, 2029.
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Fuel stations to deny fuel without valid PUCC
In another major decision aimed at tackling vehicular pollution, CAQM said fuel stations across NCR will stop dispensing fuel to vehicles that do not possess a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) from October 1, 2026. The enforcement will rely on Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems and other technology-enabled monitoring mechanisms.
X / Commission for Air Quality Management The commission said the order has been issued under powers granted by the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
Authorities in Delhi and neighbouring NCR states have been instructed to install and operationalise technology-based enforcement infrastructure, including ANPR camera systems, for effective implementation of the directive.
Exceptions allowed in emergency situations
The commission clarified that exemptions may be granted in exceptional circumstances, including medical emergencies, law-and-order duties, disaster response operations or other situations notified by the Delhi government or NCR state administrations.
This new initiative is being taken in light of the increased steps that need to be taken in order to bring down the pollution levels due to vehicular emissions from the world’s most polluted urban areas.
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Move towards cleaner public transport gathers pace
With the recent decisions, there has been some of the most aggressive initiatives taken by policymakers towards promoting electric public transport in Delhi-NCR till date. The three-wheelers are the main components providing last-mile connectivity in the region, and it seems that converting the entire fleet to run on electricity will bring down urban emissions substantially.
This new move was announced shortly after the CAQM lifted the Stage-I restrictions of the GRAP citing the improvement in air quality levels in Delhi-NCR.
