Delhi Pollution: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has announced a phased ban on the registration of new petrol, diesel and CNG light goods vehicles (LGVs) in Delhi-NCR, as part of efforts
to curb vehicular pollution.
Under the new plan, registration of new N1 category LGVs weighing up to 3.5 tonnes will be prohibited in Delhi from January 1, 2027. The restriction will be extended to Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar from July 1, 2027.
For the remaining NCR districts, registration of new petrol and diesel N1 LGVs will be prohibited from January 1, 2028, while CNG and electric vehicles will continue to be allowed, Hindustan Times reported.
The move is aimed at accelerating the transition towards electric goods vehicles in the region.
The CAQM said the decision was taken due to the significant contribution of vehicles to PM2.5 pollution in Delhi-NCR.
According to the commission, LGVs account for only around 1.2% of the active vehicle fleet in NCR but contribute nearly 3.3% of particulate matter emissions from vehicles.
The commission said that CNG vehicles, although cleaner than diesel vehicles in terms of direct particulate emissions, still produce nitrogen oxides (NOx). These emissions contribute to the formation of secondary PM2.5, a major contributor to air pollution in Delhi-NCR.
The move is aimed at gradually shifting the commercial goods vehicle fleet towards cleaner technologies, particularly electric vehicles.
Bigger LGVs Also Face Future Restrictions
CAQM has also laid out a phased plan for larger N2 category LGVs, which have a gross vehicle weight of more than 3.5 tonnes and up to 7.5 tonnes.
In the national capital, registration of new petrol, diesel and CNG N2 LGVs will be prohibited from January 1, 2028. The restriction will extend to Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar from July 1, 2028.
In the remaining NCR districts, registration of new petrol and diesel N2 LGVs will be prohibited from January 1, 2029.
The CAQM decision comes after Delhi’s Electric Vehicle Policy, notified in July 2026, provided that only electric N1-category goods vehicles would be allowed for fresh registration in the national capital from January 1, 2027.
The CAQM order expands the transition towards cleaner goods vehicles to other parts of NCR.
The commission has also tightened measures for stone crusher units, making CPCB’s dust-control guidelines mandatory for obtaining consent to operate.
Authorities will use measures including video surveillance and PM2.5 sensors, while wheel-washing facilities will also be made mandatory to control dust emissions.
CAQM has additionally imposed a combined environmental compensation of Rs 61.85 crore on six thermal power plants for failing to meet prescribed biomass co-firing targets.
