Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced on Tuesday that starting Thursday, December 18, only BS-VI-compliant vehicles from outside the capital will be allowed to enter Delhi until further notice, as part of the city’s measures to reduce air pollution. Speaking at a press conference, Sirsa stated, “From Thursday, only BS-VI-compliant vehicles from outside Delhi will be permitted to enter the city.”

He added that vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will be denied fuel at petrol stations in Delhi from the same date. Vehicle owners were given one day to ensure their vehicles meet PUC requirements. Automated cameras at fuel stations will detect non-compliant vehicles, enforcing the rule without confrontation. “Starting Thursday, such vehicles will automatically be denied fuel. Over eight lakh vehicle owners have already been penalized for not having valid PUC certificates,” Sirsa noted.

Sirsa criticized the Aam Aadmi Party, claiming the previous government failed to control pollution during its ten-year tenure and was now protesting issues that had worsened under them. He highlighted that Delhi’s air quality remained better for nearly eight months in 2025 compared to the same period last year. While acknowledging a recent rise in pollution, he said the overall situation was improved due to measures implemented by the current government over the past ten months.

Sirsa provided an update on pollution control initiatives. He said the height of Delhi’s garbage piles had been reduced by 15 metres, and 45 acres out of 202 acres of legacy waste had been cleared and reclaimed, with plantation drives underway on the recovered land. He added that the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) had installed over 2,000 pollution-monitoring units and collected fines totaling Rs 9.21 crore. Other departments were also actively enforcing pollution norms. Sirsa noted that biomethanation plants contributed to pollution, and the government had distributed 10,000 heaters to reduce emissions and ensure cleaner operations.

While 13 pollution hotspots were identified in 2018, the current government had mapped 62 locations and started corrective actions. “AQI levels at these hotspots this year were lower than in the past decade, excluding the Covid period, which is a major achievement,” he said. The minister also stated that Delhi currently operates 3,400 electric buses, with plans to expand the fleet to 7,500 to further reduce vehicular emissions.