Over 10 lakh NCR vehicles won't be able to enter Delhi from November 1

NEW DELHI: More than 10 lakh vehicles in neighbouring NCR areas of Gurgaon, Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad could be affected by Delhi's decision to prohibit the entry of vehicles below BS6 emission standards from Nov 1, 2026 to Jan 31, 2027, according to transport department estimates.Gurgaon and Faridabad together have nearly 2 lakh vehicles that do not meet BS6 standards, of which around 70% are BS3 and BS4 vehicles.

Around 50,000 commercial vehicles in the two Haryana districts are also below BS6 standards, according to an estimate by the transport department.Strict checks at border points to enforce curbsMore than 4 lakh vehicles fall below the BS6 emission standard in Noida and Greater Noida, with BS4 vehicles accounting for over half of the total.

These are predominantly petrol cars. Ghaziabad has around 4 lakh vehicles that do not meet BS6 standards, a senior transport department official told TOI.The restriction on vehicles registered outside Delhi that fall below BS6 emission standards will remain in force from Nov 1, 2026, to Jan 31, 2027, as part of the city's winter pollution control plan. The move could affect vehicle owners who travel regularly from neighbouring NCR cities to Delhi.

BS6 vehicles comply with the country's latest and most stringent emission standards for motor vehicles. The Bharat Stage norms prescribe legally enforceable limits on air pollutants emitted by internal combustion engines.To enforce the restriction, authorities are strengthening checks at Delhi's entry points. Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras are being used at border checkpoints and strategic lanes to automatically read vehicle registration plates, officials said.AI-powered cameras are intended to help identify vehicles entering the capital. Authorities are also fortifying entry points to physically stop non-BS6 vehicles from crossing into Delhi from neighbouring areas, including Noida, Gurgaon and Ghaziabad.Around 300 personnel from transport department enforcement teams will be deployed as part of the enforcement arrangements.The restrictions come as Delhi prepares for the winter pollution season, when the capital faces deteriorating air quality.

The ban specifically covers vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS6 standards.India introduced its first formal vehicle emission framework, known as India 2000 and equivalent to Euro 1, in 2000. The country subsequently moved through BS2, BS3 and BS4 standards before transitioning to BS6. Electric and CNG vehicles will be exempted.