New Delhi: Only electric N1 light goods vehicles (LGVs) will be allowed to be registered in Delhi from Jan 1, 2027, and from July 1, 2027, in the high-vehicle-density districts of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar, Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said Wednesday. N1 refers to a motor vehicle used for carrying goods and having a gross vehicle weight not exceeding 3,500kg.During a meeting headed by chairperson Rajesh Verma, CAQM approved mandating the registration of cleaner modes of LGVs in Delhi-NCR in a phased manner “in view of the significant contribution of the vehicular sector to PM2.5 emissions… and the disproportionately high particulate emissions from LGVs, which constitute only about 1.2% of the active vehicle stock but contribute approximately 3.3% of PM emissions from the total active fleet”.There will be phased restrictions on diesel and petrol N1 LGVs in the remaining districts of NCR from Jan 1, 2028, allowing registration of only new electric and CNG N1 LGVs.CAQM also announced phased restrictions on registration of N2 LGVs, which refer to vehicles with a maximum weight between 3,500kg and 7,500kg. Only electric N2 LGVs will be allowed to be registered in Delhi from Jan 1, 2028, and from July 1, 2028, in Gurgaon, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar. In the rest of NCR, it will come into force from Jan 1, 2029.The commission also announced tighter norms for stone crusher units in NCR “by incorporating the dust mitigation measures prescribed under CPCB’s Environmental Guidelines for Stone Crushing Units, 2023, into CTO conditions of stone crushing units”. It will provide technology-enabled continuous remote monitoring, including video surveillance, PM2.5/PM10 sensors, wheel washing, etc. for effective enforcement, CAQM added.As CNG is not exempted in Delhi and some NCR districts, CAQM said CNG significantly reduces primary particulate emissions compared to diesel, but it continues to generate substantial nitrogen oxide emissions, a key precursor to secondary PM2.5 formation. “A phased approach to restricting the future registration of CNG LGVs and accelerating transition to cleaner technologies is necessary to achieve sustained improvements in air quality in Delhi-NCR,” said CAQM.
