CAQM tightens GRAP rules for older goods vehicles in Delhi-NCR

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has removed exemptions for older goods vehicles carrying essential commodities under the two strictest stages of Delhi-NCR's pollution control plan. The revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), approved at Monday's CAQM Full Commission meeting, drops the exemption for light and medium goods vehicles (BS-IV and below) at Stage III, and for trucks and heavy goods vehicles at Stage IV. Restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers under Stage III have been extended to Sonipat, joining Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.

Separately, inter-city and inter-state bus restrictions have moved from Stage II to Stage I, meaning electric, CNG or BS-VI diesel vehicles will be required earlier in the pollution cycle. The CAQM has also expanded web-portal registration and monitoring of dust-control measures to construction sites beyond municipal limits across NCR. The changes formalise restrictions the commission had previously imposed through separate orders on top of GRAP. Delhi's Winter Action Plan, announced alongside the revised framework, will ban petrol and diesel vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI standards from November 1.