Delhi Borders: Over 2,700 Vehicles Turned Back in Two Days of Pollution Crackdown
Joint enforcement teams from the Delhi Traffic Police, the Transport Department, and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi turned back approximately one in every 10 vehicles at the capital's borders during the first two days of a winter pollution control drive across 12 border corridors.
On the first day of the crackdown, authorities checked 14,930 vehicles and denied entry to 1,539. Government data showed that two- and three-wheelers comprised the biggest share of turned-back vehicles at 789, alongside 140 light motor vehicles including private cars, 95 heavy goods vehicles and trucks, 54 light goods vehicles, 34 buses, and 314 non-destined vehicles. Of those turned back on Day 1, Delhi Traffic Police stopped 1,426 vehicles, while Transport Department teams turned back 113.
Enforcement intensified on Day 2 of the drive. The Delhi Traffic Police stated that by 8pm, personnel had checked 8,263 vehicles, turning back 1,228, issuing 37 challans, and impounding two vehicles. Round-the-clock patrolling continues across all 12 border corridors under Section 5 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, to intercept older and non-compliant traffic entering the city.
Zone-wise figures compiled by the traffic police up to 8pm Sunday showed 10,560 inspections, resulting in 915 turnbacks and 31 challans. Zone I, which covers the central, northern, and eastern ranges, recorded 6,639 checks and 520 turnbacks. Zone II, covering the southern, western, and New Delhi ranges, saw 3,921 checks, 395 vehicles sent back, and 31 challans. Across the checkpoints, teams inspected 2,135 trucks, turning back 218, and checked 95 inter-state buses, sending two back.
Additional Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Dinesh Kumar Gupta noted that checking vehicles during peak commuting hours requires careful coordination. He stated that teams are focusing on non-destined vehicles from other states and inspecting pollution-under-control certificates for all vehicles. He added that advisories and a dedicated WhatsApp group have been established with neighbouring districts to coordinate real-time Commission for Air Quality Management directions and prevent border congestion.
Under the existing restrictions, trucks not destined for Delhi must take the Eastern or Western Peripheral Expressways, and non-BS-VI commercial goods vehicles registered outside Delhi remain barred. Overall, authorities issued 566 challans amounting to Rs 56.6 lakh for pollution certificate violations, with traffic police issuing 493 challans worth Rs 49.3 lakh and the transport department issuing 73 fines worth Rs 7.3 lakh. Across all border operations, 127 total challans were issued, 62 vehicles impounded, and 740 exempted vehicles—including CNG, electric, and essential-service vehicles—were verified and permitted entry.
