Delhi: As Delhi’s air quality continued to hover in the “poor” range on Friday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced new curbs on commercial goods vehicles entering the National Capital Territory (NCT) to tackle pollution caused by vehicular emissions.

What’s Banned

Starting November 1, 2025, all commercial goods vehicles not registered in Delhi — including Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs), Medium Goods Vehicles (MGVs), and Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) — will be barred from entering the city unless they are BS-VI compliant.

This move is part of the government’s broader strategy to reduce vehicular pollution, one of the key contributors to Delhi’s deteriorating air quality.

As a transitional measure, BS-IV compliant goods vehicles will still be allowed entry until October 31, 2026.

Vehicles That Can Enter Delhi

The following categories of vehicles will continue to be permitted entry into Delhi at any time:

  1. Commercial goods vehicles registered in Delhi
  2. BS-VI compliant petrol/diesel vehicles
  3. BS-IV compliant petrol/diesel vehicles (allowed till 31 October 2026)
  4. CNG/LNG-run commercial vehicles
  5. Electric commercial vehicles

However, CAQM clarified that restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) — which impose additional curbs during severe pollution episodes — will still apply as per the prevailing air quality stage.

Air Quality Still ‘Poor’ Despite Slight Improvement

Despite the regulatory push, Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) remained in the ‘poor’ category, showing only marginal improvement compared to the previous day.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city recorded an average AQI of 268 at 8 am on Friday, compared to 352 (‘very poor’) a day earlier.

Several stations reported “poor” air quality levels — including Anand Vihar (282), ITO (280), Punjabi Bagh (293), and Dwarka Sector-8 (288) — while a few, like Lodhi Road (199) and Chandni Chowk (194), recorded “moderate” levels.

However, areas such as Wazirpur (355), Rohini (323), and Bawana (349) continued to report “very poor” air.

Key Takeaways

  • Ban effective from Nov 1, 2025: Non-Delhi registered BS-VI non-compliant goods vehicles to be banned.
  • Transition window: BS-IV vehicles allowed entry till Oct 31, 2026.
  • Exemptions: CNG, LNG, electric, and Delhi-registered vehicles.
  • AQI remains poor: Despite a slight improvement, pollution levels remain a serious concern.

(With inputs from agencies)