CAQM Approves Phased Registration Ban on Fossil-Fuel Goods Vehicles Across Delhi-NCR

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has approved a phased restriction on new registrations of diesel, petrol, and CNG light goods vehicles across Delhi and the National Capital Region.

The policy decision was cleared during the 29th Full Commission meeting chaired by Rajesh Verma on August 18. According to CAQM findings, light goods vehicles account for only 1.2% of Delhi-NCR's active vehicle population but contribute approximately 3.3% of total fleet-wide particulate emissions, necessitating targeted intervention to curb ambient PM2.5 levels.

Delhi-NCR Diesel & CNG Goods Vehicle Ban: District-Wise Timeline

Under the phased timeline, registration of new diesel, petrol, and CNG goods vehicles in the N1 category—vehicles with a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes—will be prohibited in Delhi starting January 1, 2027. High Vehicle Density districts, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar, will adopt the ban from July 1, 2027, followed by the remaining districts of NCR from January 1, 2028. Heavier N2 category commercial vehicles will face similar registration curbs in three subsequent stages running through January 2029.

Delhi EV Policy 2026: Incentives for Electric Goods Vehicles

The CAQM mandate closely mirrors the Delhi Electric Vehicle Policy 2026, which was notified on July 10, 2026, and remains effective through March 2030. Under Delhi's policy, new N1 goods carrier registrations are similarly restricted to pure electric models from January 1, 2027. To support transition economics, the Delhi government offers a purchase incentive of up to INR 1 lakh alongside a scrapping bonus of INR 50,000 for N1 electric trucks. Additionally, the first 1,000 electric trucks registered in the N2 category until October 10, 2026, receive a 10-year exemption from urban 'no-entry' timing restrictions.