The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) on Wednesday announced a phased ban on the registration of new petrol, diesel and CNG light goods vehicles (LGVs) in Delhi and the wider National Capital Region (NCR) from next year.

According to its order, the CAQM has prohibited the registration of petrol, diesel and CNG smaller LGVs in Delhi from January 1, 2027. The same ban will come into effect in Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar from July 1, 2027. In these cities, only electric smaller LGVs or mini pick-up trucks will be allowed to ply.

For the remaining districts in the NCR, the registration of petrol and diesel smaller LGVs will be banned from January 1, 2028. Both electric and CNG smaller LGVs will continue to be permitted to ply.

Two categories

The CAQM has classified LGVs into two categories. Smaller LGVs fall under category N1 and have a gross vehicle weight of up to 3.5 tonnes. Larger LGVs fall under category N2 and have a gross vehicle weight above 3.5 tonnes and up to 7.5 tonnes.

For the N2 category, the ban will also be rolled out in phases. In Delhi, the registration of petrol, diesel and CNG LGVs will be prohibited from January 1, 2028. In Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar, the ban will take effect from July 1, 2028. In these areas, only electric LGVs of the N2 category will be allowed. For the rest of the NCR districts, the ban on N2 LGVs will be limited to petrol and diesel vehicles from January 1, 2029. Both electric and CNG smaller LGVs will continue to be allowed.

The CAQM said the decision was taken because pollution caused by LGVs is disproportionate to their share of the total vehicles. “Though LGVs constitute only about 1.2% of total active vehicle stock across the NCR, their contribution is approximately 3.3% of the PM (particulate matter) emissions. This highlights the importance of steering future LGV sales towards cleaner technologies to avoid the long-term accumulation of high-emitting vehicles,” the order read.

The panel also justified the inclusion of CNG vehicles in the ban. “Though CNG significantly reduces primary particulate emissions compared to diesel, it continues to generate substantial nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions, a key precursor to secondary PM2.5 (a major pollutant) formation,” the order stated.