Cars24 CEO Vikram Chopra has urged the government to take tough measures to contain Delhi’s worsening AQI – even if it means restricting cars or diesel, or reintroducing the odd-even rule. In an opinion piece for The Indian Express, Chopra said that even though he makes a living from cars, he wants the government to restrict “anything that pumps poison into the sky”.
‘My family’s lungs on the line’
“I run an autotech company in India. My livelihood comes from people buying and driving cars. Mobility is the backbone of my business. Yet here I am, publicly asking the government to restrict cars, restrict diesel, restrict anything that pumps poison into the sky,” he wrote, adding that his stance reflects how “desperate” the situation has become.
He went on to say that the condition is deeply personal as his “family’s lungs are on the line”. He even shared that his five-year-old son asks him about why the “sky looks dirty again” instead of being able to play outdoors. His elderly parents hesitate to step outside because “the air stings their throats”.
‘Clean air and comfort can’t coexist’
“Delhi is suffocating because it refuses to do anything that makes daily life slightly uncomfortable,” he stressed.
He pointed to past measures that have proven effective in improving Delhi’s air quality and noted the sharp decline in pollution during the lockdown in 2020.
“Odd-even rule in January 2016 cut PM2.5 by roughly 14-16 per cent as per reports. We saw it work in real time, but instead of refining or scaling it, we scrapped it because people found it annoying,” he wrote.
He added, “…PM2.5 and PM10 didn’t just fall. They crashed by 40-60 per cent. NO2 levels dropped sharply. The AQI at many NCR hotspots shifted from mostly ‘poor’ pre-lockdown to ‘good’ or ‘satisfactory’ during lockdown.”
Chopra further added that when GRAP restrictions are enforced, the air quality improves, and AQI levels are the proof. “And every time they’re relaxed early, the pollution spikes right back.”
He also criticised the Delhi government for failing to adopt proven solutions across the world to reduce pollution. These include congestion pricing, seasonal diesel restrictions, real-time emissions monitoring at construction sites, satellite-linked payments for farmers to stop burning stubble, and better public transport.
Cars24 CEO also slammed the residents who demand clean air without sacrificing their lifestyles. “Delhi wants to breathe clean air without giving up a single convenience. That entitlement is the real pollutant. The weather is not doing this to us. We are doing this to ourselves,” he further wrote.
‘Restrict cars, diesel’
Chopra argued that stricter rules are needed and must be enforced without delay.
He went on to suggest, “If restricting cars helps, restrict them. If diesel needs to disappear for four months, do it. If odd-even works, bring it back. If construction sites violate norms, shut them down that day, not after a dozen warnings. If any industry is a chronic offender, regulate it like a health emergency instead of negotiating with it like a fragile stakeholder.”
He acknowledged that his stance may anger people, but said protecting health must come first, adding that he cannot see his “child living with an air purifier for the rest of his life”.
“My son and my parents do not get replacement lungs when Delhi fails to act. Neither do yours,” he said.
Towards the end, he wrote, “Delhi does not need awareness; it needs discipline. We need a government that’s willing to be disliked for the right reasons and citizens willing to be disrupted before the city becomes unlivable for everyone we love.”
Delhi AQI today
The Air Quality Index (AQI) in Delhi was recorded at 355 at 9 am, placing it in the “very poor” category. Earlier, GRAP Stage III curbs had been imposed to contain the worsening pollution levels in the national capital. However, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has now lifted Stage III restrictions across Delhi-NCR following a marginal improvement in air quality.
Despite the rollback, measures under Stage I and Stage II of GRAP will continue to remain in effect in Delhi-NCR.
