THESE non-Delhi vehicles will not be allowed entry into capital from Nov1; will it clash with Chhath rush? FIND OUT

In an effort to curb air pollution levels in Delhi, all non-Delhi registered commercial goods vehicles, including light commercial vehicles (LCV) that are not BS-VI compliant, will not be allowed to enter the national capital starting Saturday, November 1, reports said. The list of banned trucks also includes medium goods vehicles (MGV) and heavy goods vehicles (HGV) registered to places outside the national capital.

To enforce the ban, the Transport Department has formed 48 teams which will start identifying and detaining vehicles in the restricted category at the borders of Delhi.

The Transport Department has clarified that all BS-VI commercial goods vehicles are allowed to enter Delhi until October 31, 2026, local media reports said. However, they will also be banned after that date, they added. The Transport Department has also clarified that restrictions under various stages of the GRAP (Graded Response Action Plan) for commercial goods vehicles will reportedly remain in force.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be installed at all 126 border entry points connecting Delhi with neighbouring states, Jagran said in a report.

What are BS-VI compliant vehicles?

BS-VI stands for Bharat Stage VI, the latest set of emission standards mandated by the Indian government to regulate emissions from internal combustion engines and spark-ignition engines of vehicles. They specifically target and reduce harmful pollutants like Nitrogen Oxides and Particulate Matter (PM), especially from diesel engines.

To comply with BS-VI, vehicles must be equipped with advanced emission control technologies, such as:

Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF): Mandatory for diesel vehicles to trap and burn particulate matter.

Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR): Used to convert Nitrogen Oxides into harmless nitrogen and water.

On-Board Diagnostics (OBD): All vehicles must have this system to continuously monitor the emission control equipment.

Traffic restrictions in Delhi

In another development, Delhi Traffic Police has announced restrictions and diversions across several parts of the city in light of Chhath Puja. Commuters have been advised to avoid stretches near ghats and use public transport wherever possible.

In east and northeast Delhi, major gatherings are expected at the Gandhi Nagar Chhath Poojan Samiti Naav Ghat near the Old Iron Bridge, Purvanchal Nav Nirman Sangathan Ghat and Satyamev Jayate Ghat near Geeta Colony, each likely to draw more than 45,000 devotees.

The DND Yamuna Khadar and Chhath Ghat near Shastri Park are also likely to witness heavy footfall. Slow movement of traffic is anticipated near Geeta Colony, IP Extension and Shastri Park, the advisory issued on Sunday said.

In Bhajanpura, commercial vehicles will not be allowed on GT Road from Shastri Park to Yudhishthir Setu between 5 pm and 7 pm on Monday, and between 5 am and 7 am on Tuesday.

In Gandhi Nagar, Shantivan Loop and Laxmi Nagar to Kailash Nagar Road will remain closed from 5 pm to 6 pm on Monday and 5 am to 7 am Tuesday, with traffic diverted via Disused Canal Road.

In Khajuri Khas, traffic towards Sonia Vihar will be diverted from Nanaksar to Old Wazirabad Road, and vehicles from Sonia Vihar Border will be diverted from the MCD Toll towards Sabhapur village.

In central and north Delhi, large congregations are expected across several ghats, including Shyam Ghat in Jagatpur, which is expected to attract over one lakh devotees. The Shani Mandir Ghat at Jagatpur and Vaasudev Ghat near ISBT are also expected to see major gatherings, the advisory said.