A request to allow legally compliant BS4 vehicles to pass through Delhi on designated transit corridors has been referred to the transport authorities for consideration amid restrictions on vehicles below the BS6 emissions standard.
The issue was raised by environmental activist Amit Gupta, whose letter seeking limited relief was forwarded by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to Delhi’s transport commissioner. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has also sent the letter to the transport commissioner and the environment secretary for consideration.
The proposed exemption would apply to BS4 vehicles with valid registration and pollution under control certificates, and would be limited to expressways and designated routes used by vehicles travelling between states. The request does not seek unrestricted entry for BS4 vehicles making local trips within Delhi.
The letter said restrictions on vehicles below the BS6 standard could create difficulties for interstate travellers using Delhi as a route between Uttarakhand, Haryana, Punjab and other parts of north India. It referred to the opening of new links, including the Delhi–Dehradun Expressway, which is expected to support greater road movement between these states.
According to the submission, travellers whose BS4 vehicles are not allowed to pass through Delhi may have to use alternative routes through Ghaziabad and the Eastern Peripheral Expressway. This could increase journey distances and travel time, as well as fuel consumption, the letter said. It also raised the possibility of additional traffic pressure and congestion on the alternative routes.
The request asks authorities to examine whether interstate vehicles could be permitted to use specified expressways and transit corridors, subject to environmental and legal feasibility. It also seeks a review of the impact of the BS4 restrictions and clear instructions for affected vehicle owners.
The letter has suggested a suitable transition period so that owners of vehicles with valid registration and required compliance documents do not face sudden disruption. It has also argued that the indirect effects of pollution-control restrictions, including traffic diversion and additional fuel use, should be considered alongside the direct emissions of the vehicles covered by the restrictions.
Any decision on a possible exemption will have to be taken by the relevant authorities after considering pollution-control requirements, vehicle emissions and the ability to monitor vehicles using the designated corridors. The report does not indicate that an exemption has been approved.
The request comes as Delhi continues to enforce measures aimed at reducing air pollution by restricting the entry of vehicles below the BS6 emissions standard. The transport authorities and environment department are expected to examine the proposal before issuing any direction on transit access or a transition period.
