Delhi's air quality went into the 'very poor' category on 31 October
The Commission for Air Quality Management has announced on 1 November, that only CNG, electric, and BS-VI (Bharat stage emission standards) compliant diesel buses will be allowed to operate between Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) in an effort to reduce pollution and enhance air quality.
The authorities in Delhi and the National Capital Region have been directed to curtail the emissions from buses that run on diesel in order to tackle the growing pollution levels in these areas, which are exacerbated by seasonal variations, according to a Mint report.
As of right now, all buses that travel between Delhi and other towns and cities in Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and the National Capital Region (NCR) must be either electric, run on compressed natural gas (CNG), or be BS-VI diesel buses.
The instruction further stated that starting on January 1, 2024, all buses travelling from Rajasthan's non-NCR areas to Delhi must be electric, CNG, or BS-VI diesel vehicles. On April 1, 2024, all buses operating in Uttar Pradesh's eight districts that are part of the National Capital Region (NCR) must be diesel buses that comply with BS-VI standards.
In the meantime, the government of Delhi has mandated that all buses arriving in the nation's capital from Haryana must run on electric, CNG, or BS-VI diesel. As of Wednesday, buses travelling from the NCR regions of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan must also adhere to these rules.
The transport department has issued a circular to Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, providing guidelines for buses that will be allowed to operate between Delhi-NCR from 1 November.