More than 10 lakh vehicles in neighbouring National Capital Region (NCR) could be impacted by Delhi’s decision to ban vehicles that do not meet BS-VI emission standards from entering the capital between November 1, 2026, and January 31, 2027, as per transport department estimates. BS-VI vehicles comply with India’s latest and most stringent emission standards for motor vehicles.
Bharat Stage or BS norms set legally enforceable limits on air pollutants emitted by internal combustion engines.
Gurugram and Faridabad together have nearly 2 lakh vehicles that fall below BS-VI standards, of which around 70 per cent comply with BS-III or BS-IV norms. The two Haryana districts also have an estimated 50,000 commercial vehicles that do not meet BS-VI requirements, Times Of India reported.
Also read: BS-VII Emission Norms For Cars From April 2029 In Phases
In Noida and Greater Noida, more than 4 lakh vehicles are below BS-VI standards, with BS-IV vehicles accounting for over half of the total. These are predominantly petrol cars. Ghaziabad has around 4 lakh vehicles that do not meet BS-VI norms, a senior transport department official was quoted as saying in the report.
Tighter Checks At Border Entry Points
The restriction will apply to vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards. It forms part of the capital’s winter pollution control plan and could affect people who regularly travel to Delhi from neighbouring NCR cities.
Authorities are strengthening enforcement at the capital’s entry points to implement the restrictions. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras are being deployed at border checkpoints and strategic lanes to read vehicle registration plates, officials said.
AI-powered cameras are intended to help identify vehicles entering Delhi. Authorities are also strengthening border arrangements to physically prevent non-BS-VI vehicles from entering the capital from neighbouring areas, including Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad.
Around 300 personnel from transport department enforcement teams will be deployed as part of the enforcement measures.
Ban Targets Vehicles Below BS-VI Standards
The restrictions come as Delhi prepares for the winter pollution season, when air quality in the capital typically deteriorates. The ban specifically covers vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards. Electric and CNG vehicles will be excluded.
India introduced its first formal vehicle emission framework, India 2000, equivalent to Euro 1, in 2000. The country subsequently moved to BS-II, BS-III and BS-IV standards before transitioning to BS-VI.
