Delhi-NCR To Allow Only Electric N1 Light Goods Vehicle Registrations From Jan 2027: CAQM

New Delhi, Aug 21 (KNN) The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has approved a phased shift towards cleaner light goods vehicles (LGVs) in Delhi-NCR, citing their disproportionate contribution to particulate emissions.

Under Direction No. 102, registration of new N1 LGVs powered by petrol, diesel and CNG will be restricted in Delhi from January 1, 2027, with only electric N1 LGVs eligible for registration. 

The restriction will extend to Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar from July 1, 2027. In the remaining NCR districts, new petrol and diesel N1 LGVs will be restricted from January 1, 2028, while electric and CNG vehicles will continue to be allowed.

N1 vehicles are goods vehicles with a gross weight of up to 3,500 kg. Restrictions on new N2 LGVs will be introduced in phases from January 1, 2028, July 1, 2028 and January 1, 2029, respectively.

EV Adoption Rising

CAQM data showed that N1 LGVs accounted for around 7 per cent of new vehicle registrations in Delhi in 2025, making them the second-largest category after CNG vehicles. Of 14,712 new N1 LGVs registered, 13,646 were CNG-powered and 1,026 were electric, while diesel and petrol accounted for 35 and four vehicles, respectively.

At the end of 2025, Delhi had around 1.06 lakh active N1 LGVs, including 1,980 electric and 1.03 lakh CNG vehicles. However, electrification remains limited in the heavier N2 segment, with no electric N2 LGVs registered in Delhi or other NCR regions during 2025.

CAQM said LGVs account for only about 1.2 per cent of the active vehicle fleet but contribute around 3.3 per cent of particulate emissions, making their transition important for improving air quality.

Stricter Controls on Stone Crushers

The commission also approved Direction No. 103 to strengthen pollution controls at stone-crushing units. The measures include dust-control requirements, video surveillance, PM2.5 and PM10 sensors, and mandatory wheel-washing facilities, with monitoring linked to state pollution control boards and a central command centre.

CAQM also approved a revised procedure for allowing units closed for violations to resume operations. Units will have to submit corrective-action evidence and a notarised affidavit, while applicable environmental compensation will be recovered concurrently.

Other Measures

The commission approved Rs 3.26 crore in financial assistance for four research projects covering road-dust exposure, mechanical sweeping, particulate-source assessment in high-rise buildings and forecasting of rice-residue burning.

It also noted the extension of a temporary relaxation allowing alternate fuels to be used by certain NCR industries, hotels and restaurants until September 13, 2026, amid global energy supply disruptions linked to the Middle East conflict.

As of August 10, CAQM had issued closure orders to 1,816 violating units, with 1,461 subsequently considered for resumption after compliance. The commission also noted that 2.53 crore plantations had been completed against a 4.61-crore target for 2026-27.

(KNN Bureau)