Preparations to tackle air pollution across Delhi-NCR have begun ahead of the winter season. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa held a virtual meeting on Sunday with senior traffic police officials from neighbouring NCR cities, including Noida, Faridabad, Gurugram, Sonipat and Bahadurgarh. Delhi’s Special Commissioner of Police (Traffic) and the Delhi Transport Commissioner also participated in the meeting.

The discussions focused on strengthening coordination between Delhi and neighbouring districts to control pollution. Officials reviewed measures to enforce the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) and directions issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The strategy aims to improve traffic flow, reduce road dust, promote cleaner transport and ensure stricter compliance with pollution-control regulations across the region.

Five Key Measures to Control Pollution
The authorities discussed five major steps to reduce emissions and improve traffic management:

Better traffic management: Traffic signals and road management systems will be coordinated more effectively. Additional traffic personnel may be deployed at congestion-prone routes and NCR border areas to reduce traffic jams and vehicle emissions.

Strict enforcement of PUC rules: Monitoring of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates will be strengthened. Vehicles visibly emitting excessive smoke may face action under applicable rules, including fines and seizure where legally permitted.

Diversion of heavy vehicles: Trucks travelling to destinations beyond Delhi will be directed to use the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways, in accordance with applicable court directions, to reduce unnecessary heavy-vehicle movement through the capital.

Action against violating vehicles: Authorities will enforce applicable restrictions on older petrol and diesel vehicles, along with relevant orders issued by the Supreme Court, the National Green Tribunal and other competent authorities.

Restrictions on inter-state buses: Buses entering Delhi-NCR from other cities will be required to meet the applicable fuel and emission standards. Under the stated restrictions, buses that do not meet the prescribed eligibility requirements, including the permitted electric, CNG or BS-VI categories, will not be allowed to operate in the region.

Public Awareness Campaigns to Be Expanded
Authorities also discussed using print, electronic and social media to raise awareness about pollution-control measures and encourage the use of public transport. Enforcement teams may be strengthened at the district level as additional restrictions come into effect under the winter action plan and GRAP.

Transport departments and other agencies have also been directed to improve public information at border checkpoints through banners, signboards and awareness materials so that drivers and transport operators understand the applicable restrictions.

Delhi Traffic Police Intensifies Enforcement
During the meeting, Delhi Traffic Police officials reportedly said that enforcement against traffic violations and pollution-related offences had been intensified. According to the information shared at the meeting, more than 10,000 challans are being issued on average each day as part of the ongoing enforcement drive.

Officials also highlighted the need for real-time information sharing between neighbouring districts, particularly along NCR borders, to identify vehicles violating the rules and take timely action.

Regional Coordination Essential, Says Sirsa
Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said air pollution was not limited to Delhi and required coordinated action across the entire NCR. He stressed that Delhi and neighbouring areas must follow a common strategy to make pollution-control measures more effective.

Sirsa added that the Delhi government, under Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, aims to strengthen coordination with surrounding NCR districts so that efforts to improve air quality extend beyond the capital and deliver wider regional benefits.