Delhi Transport Department Impounds 2,234 Old Vehicles to Combat Air Pollution

Delhi's air quality has long been a major concern, with vehicular emissions being the top contributor to pollution, particularly during the winter season. According to the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), more than 50% of the city's pollution from local sources is attributed to its fragmented transportation system, surpassing even stubble burning or firecracker use.

According to the estimates, around 1.1 million vehicles enter and exit Delhi daily which significantly worsens air quality. The resulting traffic congestion compounds the pollution, especially nitrogen oxides (NOx), which account for over 80% of NOx pollution in the city. Local pollution sources alone are responsible for 30.34% of Delhi's air pollution, with transportation contributing 50.1% of that figure. In contrast, pollution from neighboring NCR districts accounts for 34.97%, while stubble burning contributes only 8.19%.

To address the escalating environmental issue, the Delhi Transport Corporation has seized 2,234 old vehicles from October 1 to November 15. This move is part of an ongoing drive aimed at curbing the city's severe air pollution. Among the vehicles impounded are 260 diesel four-wheelers that aged over a decade, 1,156 two-wheelers, and 818 petrol-powered three and four-wheelers that have been in use for more than 15 years.

The operation is expected to continue through December as part of a broader initiative to enforce environmental regulations and reduce vehicular emissions. As part of this crackdown, the Delhi Transport Department has also launched an online portal named Zipnet which is designed to streamline the process of scrapping, retrieving, or selling impounded vehicles. This platform offers vehicle owners a clear standard operating procedure (SOP) for managing their seized vehicles. Click here https://zipnet.delhipolice.gov.in/ to access the portal.

In addition to the vehicle impoundment drive, the Delhi government is considering reintroducing the Odd-Even scheme, which was first implemented in 2016 and has been in effect nearly every year since. This initiative limits the number of private cars on the road by allowing vehicles with odd-numbered license plates to operate on odd dates and those with even-numbered plates on even dates. Exemptions are typically made for CNG and electric vehicles.

Furthermore, the Delhi government has implemented a ban on both commercial and private vehicles that meet BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel standards. These actions are part of a broader initiative of departments, aimed at addressing the increasing air pollution in the National Capital Region.

With these combined efforts, the Delhi government is hoping to bring about significant improvements in air quality and reduce the harmful impact of vehicular emissions on the health of people in the city.