In a major step to tackle the city’s rising air pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has announced that all non-BS VI commercial goods vehicles will be banned from entering Delhi starting November 1, 2025.
The order aims to curb vehicular emissions, one of the biggest contributors to Delhi’s persistent smog and poor air quality.
As per the directive, no light, medium, or heavy commercial goods vehicles (LGVs, MGVs, and HGVs) registered outside Delhi and not compliant with BS-VI norms will be allowed entry into the city. However, vehicles that are registered in Delhi or run on CNG, LNG, or electricity will be exempt from the ban.
The Transport Department also announced that BS-IV compliant vehicles will be permitted to enter Delhi until October 31, 2026, to give operators time to upgrade their fleets.
“The Commission for Air Quality Management directs for a strict ban on entry of any commercial goods vehicle, other than BS-VI, CNG, LNG, and EV, into Delhi from November 1, 2025, except those registered in Delhi,” the CAQM said in its order.
The commission added that the restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) — Delhi’s emergency air pollution control framework — will continue to apply during periods of severe smog. This means that even exempted vehicles may face temporary bans when GRAP Stage III or IV measures are in effect.
The decision has received mixed reactions from the transport industry. Bhim Wadhawa of the All India Motor Transport Congress said transporters now have a year to comply before the full ban takes effect. Meanwhile, Rajendra Kapoor of the All India Motor and Goods Transport Association said the group will hold discussions to decide their next course of action.
“The Supreme Court had given these directions. If we want the restrictions on BS-IV vehicles to continue beyond one year, we’ll have to approach the court,” Kapoor said.
The move comes amid another spell of poor air quality in the national capital, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) has remained in the ‘very poor’ category for days. Experts say emissions from diesel-powered trucks and goods carriers contribute heavily to Delhi’s PM2.5 levels — fine particulate matter linked to serious health issues such as respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.
Environmentalists have welcomed the CAQM’s move as a necessary step ahead of winter but stressed that strict enforcement and regional cooperation with neighboring states will be key to achieving lasting improvement in Delhi’s air quality.
