End of petrol, diesel cars in Delhi-NCR by 2030? High-level experts panel calls for 'decisive shift'

• Panel proposes phasing out petrol, diesel cars in Delhi-NCR by 2030
• New commercial vehicles must be electric or hydrogen from April 2027
• Subsidies and charging infrastructure recommended to aid clean vehicle shift

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A high-level expert panel has proposed a sweeping, multi-decade roadmap to combat vehicular pollution in the Delhi-NCR region, calling for a decisive shift towards electric and hydrogen vehicles while setting clear expiry dates for most internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles currently on the roads.

The panel, constituted by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and chaired by IIT Madras professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala, has drafted a set of recommendations that, if adopted, would fundamentally reshape the capital's transport landscape. According to a TOI report, the draft has been circulated for stakeholder feedback.

The proposals are framed against a backdrop of severe public health concerns explicitly noted by the panel. It observed that when the Air Quality Index (AQI) surpasses 250, a newborn inhales pollution equivalent to 10-15 cigarettes daily. The report also cited chemists noting a significant rise in sales of nebulisers and inhaler medicines.

The core of the strategy involves a staggered phase-out of ICE vehicles based on their emission standard. The panel calls for the immediate exit of all BS-I, BS-II and BS-III vehicles, followed by the phase-out of BS-IV vehicles over the next five years.

For newer models, the withdrawal of BS-VI vehicles is proposed, with two-wheelers targeted by 2035 and cars by 2040. A source familiar with the deliberations was cited by TOI as saying that the 10-15 year transition for newer BS-VI vehicles is intended to avoid adversely affecting a large number of recent purchasers.

The draft proposes concrete deadlines for new registrations, prioritising commercial vehicles due to their higher pollution footprint. From April 2027, all new two-wheelers used commercially and all new taxis must be Zero Tailpipe Emission (ZTE) vehicles, a category encompassing electric and hydrogen fuel-cell models.

This mandate would extend to new light goods vehicles like pickup vans and mini-trucks from April 2028. Furthermore, the panel supports registering only electric cars from April 2030 onwards. The panel is also considering measures to nudge manufacturers towards promoting zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) sales.

To manage pollution during critical periods, the panel supports restricting the use of BS-IV vehicles during peak AQI seasons starting later this year, with similar curbs on BS-VI vehicles proposed from 2035.

To enable the transition, the panel is expected to recommend subsidies across vehicle categories to incentivise clean vehicle purchases. Crucially, it is likely to propose a legal framework establishing a ‘right to charge’, ensuring adequate charging infrastructure at homes and workplaces.

A significant focus is on overhauling the Pollution Under Control (PUC) regime by implementing real-world emission monitoring. A pilot project using remote sensing devices is already underway in the NCR. These devices use infrared and ultraviolet light to measure pollutants like NOx, CO, HC and PM from moving vehicles without requiring them to stop.

However, the draft acknowledges significant challenges in deploying this technology in Indian conditions. Dense traffic, where maintaining sufficient distance between vehicles is rare, complicates the accurate attribution of emissions to a specific vehicle. Separating a target vehicle's emissions from the ambient vehicular pollution also presents a technical hurdle.