NEW DELHI: An expert panel set up by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to suggest a roadmap for reducing air pollution in Delhi-NCR is likely to propose the immediate exit of BS-I, BS-II and BS-III vehicles; phase out of BS-IV vehicles over the next five years; and the withdrawal of BS-VI two-wheelers and cars by 2035 and 2040, respectively.The panel, headed by IIT Madras professor Ashok Jhunjhunwala, has shared the draft roadmap for feedback, TOI has learnt. The panel has taken note of serious health concerns linked to air pollution, observing that when the Air Quality Index (AQI) exceeds 250, a newborn inhales pollution equivalent to 10-15 cigarettes a day. It also noted that chemists are reporting a significant increase in the sale of nebulisers and inhaler medicines.People familiar with the panel’s deliberations said the proposal focuses on discouraging the purchase of new petrol and diesel vehicles, phasing out and restricting internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, enabling a transition to clean vehicles, and improving emission monitoring.According to the draft proposal, timelines should be set for the registration of Zero Tailpipe Emission (ZTE) vehicles, which include electric and hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles. Considering that commercial vehicles cause more pollution, the panel favours that all new two-wheelers used for commercial purposes and taxis registered after April 2027 should be ZTE vehicles. Similarly, new light goods vehicles such as pickup vans and mini-trucks registered in Delhi-NCR from April 2028 onwards should also be ZTE vehicles.The draft proposal also supports registering only electric cars from April 2030 onwards. “A transition period of 10-15 years is being proposed for phasing out BS-VI two-wheelers and cars so that a large number of people who have bought them in recent years are not adversely affected,” a source said.The panel is considering nudging vehicle manufacturers to promote the sale of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs). It also supports restricting the use of BS-IV vehicles during peak AQI seasons starting later this year, and BS-VI vehicles from 2035 onwards.To ensure adequate charging facilities at homes and workplaces, the panel is likely to suggest a legal framework establishing a ‘right to charge’.The panel is also expected to recommend subsidies for vehicle owners across all categories to encourage the purchase of clean vehicles.Additionally, the panel has identified the need to strengthen the Pollution Under Control (PUC) regime, particularly for monitoring on-road vehicle emissions.A pilot project is currently underway in the NCR to conduct such tests using remote sensing devices at selected locations. These devices use infrared and ultraviolet light to measure real-world exhaust pollutants – such as NOx, CO, HC and PM – from passing vehicles without stopping them. However, ensuring the accuracy of such tests could be challenging in India, as maintaining sufficient distance between vehicles on city roads is rare, making it difficult to accurately attribute emissions to a specific vehicle. Moreover, how the system will evaluate emission only from a particular vehicle separating it from ambient vehicular pollution would also be an issue.
