New Delhi – The Delhi BS-VI ban on non-city private vehicles below BS-VI standards came into force on Thursday, December 18, 2025, marking a significant escalation in authorities’ efforts to combat worsening air pollution in the national capital. Simultaneously, the enforcement of the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ rule began, creating a comprehensive framework to restrict polluting vehicles from entering and operating within Delhi.
Implementation of Delhi BS-VI Ban at Borders
The Delhi BS-VI ban is being enforced through a massive deployment of traffic police personnel across the city’s entry points. According to officials, 580 police personnel have been strategically positioned at 126 checkpoints, including all major borders, to check vehicles entering the national capital. Traffic police are conducting document verification at critical locations such as the Delhi-Noida Chilla Border to ensure compliance with the new restrictions.
The Delhi BS-VI ban specifically targets private vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards. This restriction aims to prevent older, more polluting vehicles from contributing to the capital’s deteriorating air quality during the critical winter months when pollution levels typically spike.
No PUC, No Fuel Rule Enforcement
Complementing the Delhi BS-VI ban, fuel pumps across the capital are implementing the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ rule, refusing to dispense fuel to vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control certificates. This enforcement mechanism employs sophisticated technology, including automatic number plate reader (ANPR) cameras, voice alerts at pumps, and police support to ensure compliance.
The integration of technology with the Delhi BS-VI ban enforcement represents a significant advancement in pollution control measures. The ANPR cameras automatically identify vehicles without valid PUC certificates, triggering alerts that prevent fuel dispensing and notify enforcement personnel of violations.
Transport Department Deployment
Beyond Delhi Police presence, enforcement teams from the Transport Department have been deputed at petrol pumps and border points for effective implementation of the Delhi BS-VI ban. This multi-agency approach ensures comprehensive coverage and reduces the possibility of non-compliant vehicles evading detection.
The coordinated effort between traffic police and transport department officials strengthens the Delhi BS-VI ban enforcement mechanism, creating multiple layers of verification and compliance checking throughout the city.
Exemptions Under Delhi BS-VI Ban
The Delhi BS-VI ban includes several important exemptions to ensure essential services and alternative fuel vehicles are not impacted. Vehicles running on CNG or electric power are exempt from the restrictions, as are public transport vehicles. Additionally, vehicles carrying essential commodities or providing essential services remain permitted to enter the city.
These exemptions under the Delhi BS-VI ban acknowledge the need to balance pollution control with essential civic functions and economic activities. The exemptions also incentivize the use of cleaner fuel alternatives and public transportation.
Construction Material Transport Restrictions
Under GRAP IV restrictions that accompany the Delhi BS-VI ban, vehicles carrying construction materials are prohibited from entering the city. This additional measure targets construction-related pollution, which contributes significantly to dust and particulate matter in the air during periods of poor air quality.
The construction material ban works synergistically with the Delhi BS-VI ban to reduce multiple pollution sources simultaneously, creating a more comprehensive approach to air quality management.
Petrol Dealers’ Concerns About Delhi BS-VI Ban
The Delhi Petrol Dealers’ Association (DPDA) has flagged several challenges in implementing the Delhi BS-VI ban and associated ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ directive. While expressing “whole-hearted support” to Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa’s pollution control measures, the association highlighted that effective enforcement remains “an extremely difficult and arduous task” unless key concerns are addressed.
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The DPDA pointed out that Delhi’s residents suffer more from transboundary pollution than from sources within city limits, suggesting that the Delhi BS-VI ban and related “measures confined solely to the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi are unlikely to yield desired results unless uniformly implemented across the entire National Capital Region (NCR).”
Legal and Implementation Challenges
The association raised important legal concerns regarding the Delhi BS-VI ban enforcement at fuel pumps. Refusal of fuel, being an essential commodity, is covered under Section 3 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 and the Motor Spirit and High Speed Diesel Order, 1998. The DPDA requested that “refusal of sale has to be decriminalised by the relevant authority” for effective implementation.
The dealers emphasized that petrol pumps are not enforcement agencies and that Delhi BS-VI ban implementation “has to be done by the competent authorities vested with statutory powers.” They expressed concern that petrol pump staff are “never looked upon by customers as an enforcing authority” and that fuel denial could lead to “law-and-order disturbances.”
Technical Infrastructure Concerns
The DPDA highlighted technical issues affecting the Delhi BS-VI ban enforcement, noting that the emission checking system is “obsolete and needs to be upgraded.” The association pointed out there is “no dashboard/live feed provided along with the ANPR cameras installed at retail outlets.”
According to dealers, a true trial run has “never been established,” and previous trial runs yielded “a lot of junk data being transmitted into petrol pumps leading to the failure of the drive.” These technical shortcomings could undermine the effectiveness of the Delhi BS-VI ban enforcement mechanisms.
Government’s Planned Improvements
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has acknowledged the implementation challenges and announced plans for an overhaul of the PUC certificate issuing system. Additionally, the government is developing a carpooling application to reduce emissions and vehicular traffic as part of the broader Delhi BS-VI ban strategy.
