Gautam Buddh Nagar has imposed restrictions on BS-3 petrol and BS-4 diesel vehicles, along with vehicles carrying sand or soil in the open, as authorities tighten pollution-control measures across Noida and Greater Noida. The restrictions took effect on Sunday and will be enforced alongside other measures under Stage 3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-3), according to the Gautam Buddh Nagar traffic police.
The decision brings vehicle restrictions in the district in line with measures being implemented in Delhi amid worsening air quality across the National Capital Region. Traffic police said vehicles transporting sand and soil without adequate covering would not be allowed to operate in the district. Violators will face action under the applicable rules.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Syed Ali Abbas said the movement of freight vehicles carrying sand and soil in the open had been completely restricted. The measure is intended to limit dust emissions from construction and material transport, which can worsen roadside pollution when loose loads spill or become airborne.
The district already prohibits the operation of diesel vehicles more than 10 years old and petrol vehicles more than 15 years old. Officials said vehicles found operating in violation of these restrictions would face strict action. Drivers have also been advised to carry valid pollution-under-control certificates and comply with traffic and parking rules.
Enforcement will be supported by the command and control centre, which will monitor roads through closed-circuit television cameras installed at different locations across the city. Traffic police said the surveillance system would be used to identify vehicles violating the restrictions and initiate action against them.
The advisory also asks motorists to switch off their engines while waiting at red lights, use alternative routes around congestion hotspots and park only in designated spaces instead of public roads. These directions are part of the broader GRAP-3 compliance measures being enforced in the Delhi-NCR region.
The restrictions come as authorities point to the health and environmental effects of poor air quality in the region. However, enforcement challenges extend beyond vehicles. In Greater Noida’s Tusyana village, a garbage fire reportedly left the surrounding area covered in smoke for several hours. Fire department personnel reached the site and took several hours to bring the fire under control.
The incident has highlighted the range of pollution sources that city authorities must address during a period of poor air quality, including road dust, vehicle emissions and the open burning of waste. The traffic police said strict compliance with GRAP-3 rules would continue across the district, while CCTV-based monitoring and action against violating vehicles remain the stated enforcement measures.
