Drivers and commuters caught off guard by Delhi vehicle ban
Many people were turned back at borders as the Delhi government implemented a preventive ban on older vehicles.
The Delhi government implemented a preventive ban on older vehicles on Sunday, ahead of the winter pollution season, according to The Indian Express. This marks the first time the ban has been imposed as a preventive measure rather than when air quality reaches severe levels under GRAP 3.
In Noida, where GRAP 1 is active, BS-III vehicles are prohibited from entering the city. On Sunday, Amit, an 18-year-old driver, was fined Rs 10,000 while transporting goods from Gurgaon to Noida in a BS-III mini-truck.
Commuters also faced restrictions, such as Tarun, who was turned back at the Chilla border in a BS-IV diesel car. He noted that he did not expect the rules to apply without GRAP 3 being in force.
Vishnu Kumar, an IT professional, was stopped by traffic police at the Bijwasan toll plaza while returning to Greater Noida in a BS-IV Maruti Swift. An officer informed him that the ban was only imposed on Sunday.
Delivery partners and transport workers reported difficulties, including Hamza, a Porter partner from Nizamuddin, who was stopped for lacking BS-VI certification. Another man expressed concern that the ban would impact the ability of transport businesses to move goods during the festive season.