New Delhi, December 16, 2025:
The Delhi government on Monday announced a series of stringent measures to curb vehicular pollution in the national capital, including denial of fuel to vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) and restrictions on the entry of polluting vehicles from outside Delhi during high pollution periods. The measures, announced by Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, will come into effect from December 18.
Addressing a press conference at the Delhi Secretariat, Sirsa said that all petrol, diesel and CNG pump operators in Delhi have been directed to dispense fuel only after verifying a valid PUCC. The decision, he said, is aimed at controlling tailpipe emissions, which remain one of the major contributors to Delhi’s deteriorating air quality.
The minister further announced that all vehicles registered outside Delhi and falling below the BS-VI emission category will be denied entry into the city whenever GRAP Stage III and Stage IV restrictions are in force. In addition, vehicles carrying construction materials will not be allowed to enter Delhi during GRAP Stage IV. Sirsa made it clear that the government will not allow polluting vehicles to worsen Delhi’s air during critical pollution episodes.
To ensure strict enforcement, the minister said that Automatic Number Plate Recognition systems and on-ground checks will be deployed at fuel stations and city borders to verify PUCC validity and emission standards. He appealed to citizens to cooperate with enforcement agencies and advised against arguing with officials in cases of non-compliance.
Highlighting the government’s pollution control efforts under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Sirsa said the current administration has adopted data-driven and scientifically designed interventions. According to him, air quality trends over the past months show a visible improvement. He said that eight out of the first eleven months under the present government recorded better air quality compared to the corresponding period last year, while November witnessed an average AQI nearly 20 points lower than previous years.
The minister also detailed the crackdown on industrial pollution. Surveys have been conducted across industrial areas, redevelopment zones and non-conforming areas, leading to the identification of 824 industrial units for action. More than 2,000 notices and penalties amounting to around ₹9.21 crore have been imposed by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee and other departments on violators of pollution norms.
Strict action is also underway against non-compliant diesel generator sets and commercial establishments. Around 3,200 diesel generator sets have been verified for compliance with CAQM norms, with closure and penalties initiated against defaulters. Nearly 318 banquet halls have been directed to ensure their generator sets meet prescribed standards, failing which they will be sealed.
On solid waste management, Sirsa said the government has significantly scaled up biomining operations at Delhi’s three landfill sites. Daily processing of legacy waste has increased from about 20,000 metric tonnes to nearly 35,000 metric tonnes, in line with the target of completing biomining by 2026. Of the roughly 202 acres covered by landfill sites, around 45 acres have already been reclaimed and are being converted into plantation zones and dense urban forests, including a seven-acre forested area.
The minister also highlighted progress in green mobility, stating that Delhi’s public transport fleet now includes 3,427 electric buses. The government aims to induct 7,500 electric buses by December 2026, a move expected to significantly reduce vehicular emissions and move towards an almost fully electric city bus fleet. He added that over 8.66 lakh vehicles have already been challaned in Delhi for not having valid PUCC certificates, improving compliance and public awareness.
Responding to criticism and protests by the Aam Aadmi Party, Sirsa said parties that governed Delhi for over a decade and presided over rising pollution levels were now protesting against a problem they helped create. He said the present government is working daily to address pollution hotspot by hotspot, landfill by landfill and industry by industry, while correcting years of neglect.
Sirsa also announced the constitution of a high-level Pollution Advisory Expert Group comprising scientists and headed by a former Environment Secretary of the Government of India. The group has begun providing scientific inputs on pollution mitigation, while a separate CAQM committee is working to refine and strengthen the action plan. Online Emission Monitoring Systems have already been installed in 280 industrial units, with strict action planned against units that fail to comply.
Appealing to citizens, the minister said no government can eliminate pollution in a few months, but the direction and intent are clear. He urged vehicle owners to obtain valid PUCC certificates immediately and comply with the new fuel and entry rules, stressing that the measures are essential to safeguard public health and Delhi’s future.
