Delhi’s winter pollution plan will rely on coordinated enforcement across NCR borders, smoother traffic movement and stricter action against vehicles that violate emissions and documentation rules, according to an official statement issued after a review meeting led by Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Sunday.
The meeting brought together senior traffic police and police officials from Delhi, Noida, Faridabad, Gurugram, Sonipat and Bahadurgarh. Officials reviewed preparations for implementing pollution-control measures under directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management and the Graded Response Action Plan, or GRAP.
Sirsa said air pollution was a regional problem that required joint action by the states and districts forming the National Capital Region. The winter strategy, according to the statement, will focus on managing border areas, keeping traffic moving, promoting cleaner public transport and taking joint action against vehicles that do not comply with the rules.
Traffic congestion at or near NCR borders was a specific concern during the meeting. Officials discussed coordination between agencies and the deployment of adequate personnel at locations where traffic jams are likely, particularly around inter-state boundaries. The stated objective is to reduce pollution from vehicles remaining in traffic for long periods.
The agencies also discussed stricter enforcement of pollution under control certificate requirements and action against vehicles visibly emitting smoke. The statement did not provide a separate target for PUC inspections or specify the number of vehicles expected to be checked under the winter preparations.
The plan also includes tighter enforcement of directions for trucks that do not need to enter Delhi. Such vehicles will be required to use the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, the statement said, reducing unnecessary movement of heavy vehicles through the city.
It added that buses operating in the region would be subject to restrictions, with permission limited to electric, CNG or BS-VI diesel buses under the applicable directions. The statement did not specify the duration or geographic scope of these restrictions beyond referring to the relevant orders.
At border checkpoints, authorities will install notice boards informing vehicle drivers and inter-state transport operators about the restrictions. Officials will also conduct awareness campaigns to encourage the use of public transport.
The Delhi Traffic Police told the meeting that enforcement against traffic and pollution-related violations had already been intensified. According to the official statement, more than 10,000 challans are currently being issued on average each day as part of the campaign.
The measures place traffic management and vehicle enforcement at the centre of Delhi-NCR’s immediate winter pollution response. The next stage will depend on how the participating agencies implement the reviewed directions at border points, congested locations and routes used by heavy vehicles.
