As the government plans to curb the rising AQI, a set of new restrictions has been imposed on commuters and travellers moving to and fro between Delhi and NCR. As per the new restrictions, any vehicle that is registered under BS6 norms will not be allowed to enter Delhi from outside . Beyond that, from 18th December, vehicle owners will not be allowed to get refuelled without an applicable PUC certificate.
What is allowed and what’s not allowed
From Thursday, only BS-VI vehicles coming from outside Delhi will be permitted to enter teh city. Vehicles without a valid pollution under control (PUC) certificate will not be allowed to refuel at petrol or diesel pumps. All other older vehicles from outside Delhi will be restricted from entering the national capital. Residents with compliant vehicles can continue normal travel and refueling within the city, while strict enforcement will be in place at entry points and petrol pumps.
No fuel for vehicles without a PUC
Sirsa said vehicle owners have been given one day to comply with the PUC.” After tomorrow, vehicles that do not have a valid PUC certificate will not be provided fuel”. The government has strict enforcement with challans being issued for PUC violations.
Amid the rising AQI, the strictest level of pollution control under the Graded Response Action Plan, known as GRAP 4, Air quality has showcased a rapid transition into the serve or serve plus category. This has triggered emergency measures, including restrictions on heavy vehicle entry, reduction of office attendance with work-from-home directives and shifting school classes to Hybrid or online modes for several grades
The Delhi government took efforts to ensure that outdoor activities and physical sport programmes were also suspended to limit public exposure to hazardous air. The move was prompted by dense smog and toxic air conditions, with the air quality index crossing the dangerous threshold, raising health concerns for children the elderly and citizens with respiratory issues.
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#WATCH | Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa says, "It is impossible for any elected government to reduce AQI in 9-10 months. I apologise for the pollution in Delhi. We are doing better work than the dishonest AAP government, and we have reduced AQI each day. This… pic.twitter.com/hmUoMv57Wf
— ANI (@ANI) December 16, 2025
