New Delhi, December 26, 2025:
The Delhi Government, under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, has outlined a comprehensive roadmap to reduce vehicular pollution and traffic congestion in the national capital, with a strong focus on shared mobility, electric vehicles and stricter monitoring of vehicle fitness. The government has reiterated that meaningful control of air pollution is not possible without reducing the number of vehicles on city roads, and that transport reforms will remain a key pillar of its long-term environmental strategy.
Addressing the government’s transport policy, the Chief Minister said the primary objective is to ensure that fewer vehicles carry a larger number of passengers, without causing inconvenience to commuters. According to her, promoting shared transport options and electric mobility will help ease traffic pressure, improve road efficiency and significantly cut vehicular emissions.
As part of this approach, the Delhi Government is actively engaging with transportation network companies such as Ola and Uber. A special meeting with these companies is expected to be held soon to enhance passenger convenience and discuss measures to prioritise shared rides. The meeting will also deliberate on increasing the participation of women drivers and promoting environment-friendly services across app-based taxi platforms.
The Chief Minister said shared taxi services, which were operational in Delhi prior to the COVID-19 pandemic but were discontinued later, are now being considered for revival. The proposed revival aims to offer affordable and convenient travel options to commuters while reducing the number of private vehicles on the roads. The government is also exploring the possibility of integrating private electric vehicles into taxi services, with a view to expanding clean mobility options.
Emphasising the importance of women’s safety and inclusion, the Chief Minister said the government intends to increase the number of women drivers in the city’s taxi ecosystem. This move, she noted, would not only create employment opportunities but also provide women passengers with safer and more reliable travel choices.
Alongside shared mobility initiatives, the Delhi Government is strengthening enforcement mechanisms to ensure that vehicles operating in the capital do not contribute to pollution. The government is expanding the network of automated commercial vehicle fitness testing stations to scientifically assess vehicular emissions and roadworthiness.
The Chief Minister said the automated fitness testing centre at Jhuljhuli is already operational and is capable of testing around 70,000 vehicles annually. The facility at Burari is currently being upgraded, while two additional centres at Nand Nagri and Tehkhand are expected to become operational by March next year. Once fully functional, these four centres together will have the capacity to conduct fitness tests for approximately 2.5 to 3 lakh commercial vehicles every year.
In addition, the government has approved the establishment of five more automated vehicle fitness testing stations at Delhi Transport Corporation depots. These new centres will come up at Bawana, Ghazipur, Savda Ghevra, GTK Depot and Dichau Kalan. All necessary approvals for these facilities have been granted, and work on their implementation is expected to begin soon.
Highlighting the link between transport and air quality, the Chief Minister said multiple research studies have established vehicular emissions as a major contributor to air pollution in Delhi. In response, the government is continuously investing in strengthening public transport infrastructure. Metro rail, city buses and electric mobility form the backbone of Delhi’s long-term transport policy, aimed at offering reliable alternatives to private vehicle use.
In this context, certain corridors of Delhi Metro Phase-5A have received in-principle approval from the Central Government, paving the way for further expansion of the Metro network. The Chief Minister said this expansion will reduce dependence on road-based transport, ease traffic congestion and provide a sustainable solution to pollution control.
The Chief Minister underlined that air pollution cannot be tackled through short-term or isolated measures. She said the Delhi Government is simultaneously implementing sustained, coordinated and long-term policies across departments. Along with transport reforms, the government continues to enforce dust control measures, strict monitoring of construction sites, regular mechanical road cleaning, prevention of open burning and the deployment of mist spray systems and anti-smog guns in identified pollution hotspots.
All concerned departments, she added, have been kept in active mode, with close inter-departmental coordination to ensure a comprehensive and effective response to pollution control. The government remains committed to adopting science-based solutions and long-term planning to ensure cleaner air and smoother mobility for the people of Delhi.
