CAQM Bans Petrol and Diesel Vehicles in Delhi-NCR by 2026

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has announced a ban on the inclusion of petrol and diesel vehicles in the fleets of cab aggregators, e-commerce firms, and delivery companies across the Delhi-NCR region. This significant order, effective from January 1, 2026, aims to address the region’s persistent air quality crisis, where the Air Quality Index (AQI) has consistently remained above the 400 mark, indicating ‘Severe’ and hazardous conditions for public health.

The new regulation specifically targets commercial vehicles, which are identified as a major contributor to urban pollution due to their continual operation throughout the day. By mandating a transition to clean fuel, the CAQM hopes to reduce emissions significantly. Delivery fleets will be required to operate solely on compressed natural gas (CNG) or electric vehicles starting in 2026. The ban will only affect the induction of new petrol or diesel vehicles into these commercial fleets, allowing existing vehicles to remain operational until the end of their life cycles.

To ensure compliance, officials from the Assistant Regional Transport Office (ARTO) have engaged with leading e-commerce companies and made it clear that the January 2026 deadline is final and non-negotiable. This decision will impact thousands of delivery partners and major firms that rely on last-mile delivery services in the region.

Companies such as Swiggy, Zomato, Blinkit, Amazon, and Flipkart will need to quickly adapt their fleets to adhere to the new regulations. The approved vehicles for delivery operations will include CNG bikes and scooters, electric two-wheelers, electric and CNG three-wheelers, and small electric commercial vehicles.

Stricter Air Quality Measures Introduced

In conjunction with the vehicle ban, the CAQM has also revised the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to implement stricter measures at lower pollution thresholds. Under this new framework, rules that were previously applicable under GRAP-2 will now be enforced under GRAP-1, while enhanced measures for GRAP-3 and GRAP-4 will apply at lower AQI levels.

A notable adjustment in this updated plan is the new trigger for mandatory work-from-home policies. Government, private, and municipal offices will now be required to operate at 50% capacity when the AQI reaches 401-450. This rule previously applied only to AQI levels above 450, indicating a reduced tolerance for hazardous air quality conditions. The central government is anticipated to adopt this model for its own employees as well.

The ongoing efforts by the CAQM represent a critical step toward improving air quality in the densely populated Delhi-NCR region, where pollution has become a pressing public health challenge.