After trucks, bus ban now likely in Delhi: CNG, electric and BS-6 buses only exception_INSIGHT

Due to the severe AQI levels, the Delhi government is now considering a comprehensive ban on passenger buses entering the national capital, with exceptions for those operating on CNG, electricity, and BS-6 diesel due to the deteriorating pollution levels, as per a PTI report. Currently, under GRAP Stage IV restrictions, only trucks are prohibited from entering the capital city.
According to the report, a source has revealed that the implementation of the ban is likely after the upcoming Chhath Puja festival, considering the surge in traffic associated with the event.

In the previous month, the Delhi government mandated that buses entering the city from Haryana must run on electricity, CNG, or BS-VI diesel. Similar regulations apply to buses entering from NCR regions of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
The transport department of the city government specified that, starting July 1, buses entering Delhi from any city or town in Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh must comply with the norms of running on electricity, CNG, or BS-6 diesel.
The source indicated plans to extend these norms to buses arriving from all states.

Despite the implementation of strict measures by the Delhi government, such as ban on construction work and the entry of diesel trucks, Delhi’s air quality has worsened in recent days. To enforce restrictions, forty enforcement teams, including traffic personnel, are stationed on Delhi’s border areas from 8 pm to 4 am. Overall, a hundred teams are actively addressing issues such as overloaded trucks, pollution certificates, interstate buses, and congestion.
Despite the Supreme Court challenging the efficacy of the ‘odd-even’ scheme, the Delhi government still has the right to implement it. If it chooses to do so, majority of the cabs would also be affected futher constricting Delhi’s public transport infrastructure.