No Diesel/Petrol/CNG LGVs (N1 - 3.5 tonnes GWV or less) shall be permitted to be registered in Delhi-NCR, in a phased manner
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has announced what could become one of the most consequential shifts in India’s urban freight policy: From January 2027, Delhi will effectively shut its new vehicle market to diesel, petrol and compressed natural gas (CNG) light goods vehicles (LGVs) of up to 3.5 tonnes, which is also known as N1 category.The ban then progressively moves into the National Capital Region (NCR) districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Uttar Pradesh), which may be classified as High Vehicle Density (HVD) districts from January 2028, highly placed sources told businessline.“No Diesel/Petrol/CNG LGVs (N1 - 3.5 tonnes GWV or less) shall be permitted to be registered in Delhi-NCR, in a phased manner,” sources quoting the CAQM’s direction dated August 19, said, adding that the ban in the NCR would be effective January 1, 2O27, including HVD districts of NCR.Phased banFor the N2 category of commercial vehicles (above 3.5 tonnes and up to 7.5 tonnes), no Diesel/ Petrol/CNG would be permitted to be registered in Delhi-NCR, in a phased manner, it said. While the ban in National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi will be effective January 2028, no registration of this vehicle category will be allowed from July 2028 in the HVD districts of NCR.In all districts of NCR other than NCT of Delhi and HVD districts, no Diesel/Petrol LGVs (N2 - above 3.5 tonnes and up to 7.5 tonnes GVW) would be permitted to be registered effective January 2029, the CAQM said.“These directions shall operate in addition to and not in derogation of the directions, advisories, orders and other measures issued by the Commission under the Act for prevention, control and abatement of air pollution in NCR. In the event of any inconsistency, the provisions of these directions shall prevail to the extent of such inconsistency,” one of the sources quoting the instructions of CAQM said.The government of the NCT of Delhi (GNCTD/ NCR) State governments should also give wide publicity to these directions and take all necessary measures for ensuring effective implementation thereof within their respective jurisdictions, the instructions added.Keeping in view the necessity to develop strategies for abatement of air pollution caused by vehicular emissions in Delhi-NCT, an expert committee was constituted by the Commission in December 2025 and after extensive consultations with the stakeholders, the CAQM noted.The committee in its interim report submitted in July/August, 2026, has observed that within the transport sector, LGVs) — comprising N1 and N2 vehicles account for a notable share of PM 2.5 emissions due to their widespread usage for last-mile goods transport, it said.Therefore, the committee recommended the transition of LGVs (NI and N2) to EV in a phased manner in Delhi and HVD districts, and EV/ CNG in districts of NCR other than NCT of Delhi and HVD districts, it added.Published on August 20, 2026
