Delhi will ban non-BS-VI vehicles from other states every winter from November 1 to January 31. The Delhi Transport Department said vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet these standards cannot ply in the city. Officials deployed 250 personnel at entry points to ensure many drivers follow these rules.
Delhi is institutionalising annual winter bans on older interstate commercial and passenger vehicles failing strict emission norms, deploying enforcement teams across major entry points. The clampdown coincides with emergency anti-pollution measures halting non-essential construction.
The Delhi government has made its restrictions on older, non-Delhi-registered vehicles a recurring annual measure, barring vehicles below BS-VI emission standards from other states and Union territories from operating in the national capital between November 1 and January 31.
In a public notification issued on November 7, the Delhi Transport Department said vehicles registered outside Delhi and conforming to BS-IV emission standards or below will not be allowed to ply in the city during this period every year.
The move formalises a seasonal restriction that was initially announced for the 2026 winter season under the government's Winter Action Plan, aimed at reducing vehicular emissions during the months when Delhi typically experiences a sharp deterioration in air quality.
The restrictions also cover commercial goods vehicles, including light, medium and heavy goods vehicles, that do not meet BS-VI emission standards. Such vehicles will not be permitted to enter Delhi from November 1, 2026.
Buses operating under the All India Tourist Permit and other permit categories will also have to comply with the prescribed emission standards. Vehicles running on compressed natural gas (CNG) and electricity are exempt from the restrictions.
Delhi deploys 250 personnel to enforce vehicle restrictions
To ensure compliance, the transport department has deployed around 250 enforcement personnel at major entry points, toll plazas and identified pollution hotspots across the national capital, officials said.
Enforcement teams have been positioned at key locations, including the DND Flyway, Rajokri on NH-48, Ghazipur, Singhu border, Tikri and Badarpur, among other entry points.
The department has also written to neighbouring states, including Punjab, Uttar Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh, urging them to accelerate the transition to electric vehicles and BS-VI-compliant vehicles, particularly in the transport sector.
CAQM invokes GRAP Stage III across Delhi-NCR
The annual vehicle restrictions come amid worsening air pollution in the national capital ahead of Diwali.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on November 6, citing unfavourable meteorological conditions and forecasts of a further deterioration in air quality.
Stage III measures include restrictions on certain older petrol and diesel vehicles, a suspension of non-essential construction and demolition activities, and the option of hybrid classes for students up to Class 5.