Delhi to tighten border checks as AQI forecast to turn poor

Delhi’s air quality stood at 153 on Sunday afternoon, in the “moderate” category, but is forecast to slip into the “poor” range from Monday to Wednesday.

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa chaired a virtual meeting with officials from Delhi, Noida, Faridabad, Gurugram, Sonipat and Bahadurgarh to coordinate winter pollution controls across the NCR. Delhi Police’s Special Commissioner (Traffic) and the city’s Transport Commissioner also attended.

Officials will coordinate traffic movement and deploy personnel at high-traffic corridors, congestion-prone spots and NCR border areas to reduce emissions from long traffic queues. Enforcement of Pollution Under Control norms is also set to be strengthened. Visibly polluting vehicles may be stopped, impounded and fined where applicable.

The government said it will enforce Supreme Court directions requiring trucks not destined for Delhi to use the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways. Existing restrictions on overage diesel and petrol vehicles will continue.