The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued directions under Section 12 of the CAQM Act, 2021, mandating a phased transition to cleaner Light Goods Vehicles (LGVs) across Delhi-NCR.
The move is aimed at reducing vehicular emissions that contribute significantly to the region’s poor air quality, particularly elevated PM2.5 levels. The new rules will be rolled out in phases from January 2027, restricting new registrations of diesel, petrol and, in some areas, CNG LGVs.
Importantly, the order concerns new registrations. It does not, by itself, ban existing petrol, diesel or CNG LGVs from the mentioned dates.
Why was the move needed?
As per the assessment by air quality experts cited by CAQM, vehicles account for around 23% of the total PM2.5 load during winter and 18% during summer in Delhi-NCR.
LGVs constitute only around 1.2% of the active vehicle stock across NCR but account for around 3.3% of particulate matter emissions from the active vehicle fleet. Their contribution is estimated at 5.1% in Delhi, 2.3% in five High Vehicle Density (HVD) districts and 3.1% in the rest of NCR.
CAQM underlined the disproportionate contribution of LGVs to particulate emissions while laying out the phased transition.
CAQM said goods vehicles have disproportionately higher particulate emissions because of their “higher utilisation and emission intensity”. The use of these vehicles is also expanding with e-commerce, courier services, logistics, FMCG distribution and urban goods movement.
Citing BS-VI (2026) emission factors made available by ARAI, the order stated that a BS-VI CNG LGV generates more than 57 times the PM2.5 of a BS-VI CNG passenger car, whereas a BS-VI diesel LGV emits around 130 times more.
Phased registration restrictions
The restrictions depend on the vehicle’s Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and place of registration.
N1 LGVs-up to 3.5 tonnes GVW
-Delhi: No new diesel, petrol or CNG N1 LGVs from January 1, 2027.
-Gurugram, Sonipat, Faridabad, Gautam Buddha Nagar and Ghaziabad: Restrictions will be implemented from July 1, 2027.
-Rest of NCR: No new diesel or petrol N1 LGVs from January 1, 2028. CNG is not included in this restriction.
N2 LGVs-above 3.5 tonnes and up to 7.5 tonnes GVW
-Delhi: No new diesel, petrol or CNG N2 LGVs from January 1, 2028.
-Five HVD districts: Restrictions commence from July 1, 2028.
-Rest of NCR: No new diesel or petrol N2 LGVs from January 1, 2029. CNG is not included in this restriction.
Why is CNG also being restricted?
CAQM said CNG produces lower direct particulate emissions than diesel but continues to emit nitrogen oxides (NOx), which contribute to secondary PM2.5 formation.
Citing a 2022 TERI analysis, the order said vehicles account for around 18-22% of the total NOx load in the NCR region.
CAQM also said that continued dependence on CNG can shift pollution towards “chemically formed secondary particulate matter rather than eliminating it.”
Why is the transition being phased?
According to CAQM, there are 20 electric N1 models from nine registered manufacturers. Options for heavier vehicles continue to be more limited. In 2025, 2,744 new N2 LGVs were registered in Delhi-NCR, but none of them was electric.
The order says six EV models from four registered manufacturers are available in this segment. Charging infrastructure outside Delhi and the five HVD districts is also at an initial stage. Therefore, CNG registrations can continue in the remaining NCR districts under this direction.
What does it mean for existing vehicle owners?
The restrictions apply to new registrations, not automatically to LGVs already on the road. Existing petrol, diesel and CNG LGVs will remain subject to other applicable vehicle-age, pollution, entry and operating rules. For buyers, the type of new goods vehicle they can register will increasingly depend on its weight, registration date and location.