Despite being fewer in number, the older trucks are responsible for a disproportionate share of pollution. Trucks entering Delhi emit an estimated 52.18 kg of PM2.5 every day. Of this, BS-III trucks emit 17.9 kg, while BS-IV trucks emit 14.47 kg. Together, BS-III and BS-IV trucks account for nearly 62 per cent of total PM2.5 emissions from trucks entering Delhi, even though they represent only 38 per cent of the fleet. In comparison, BS-VI trucks, which make up 62 per cent of trucks entering Delhi, contribute 19.81 kg, or about 38 per cent of the total PM2.5 emission. On average, an older BS-III/BS-IV truck emits about 2.7 times more PM2.5 than a BS-VI truck in the surveyed fleet. While most heavy-duty trucks entering Delhi are already BS-VI compliant, a relatively small share of older BS-III and BS-IV vehicles continues to generate a majority of particulate pollution. By targeting these vehicles first, the government hopes to achieve larger air-quality gains from a smaller section of the commercial fleet.
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From Delhi's AQI of 275 to Bengaluru's 60, here's how air quality compares across six Indian cities.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Friday invoked Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi and the entire National Capital Region, amid an increase in pollution levels in the National Capital Region (NCR).
While GRAP-III is typically invoked when the air quality turns "severe" and the AQI hits 400, the pollution board invoked it early as a precautionary measure.
The Commission for Air Quality Management or CAQM has applied the Stage-III restrictions across the entire NCR with immediate effect as a precautionary measure after Delhi's average AQI (Air Quality Index) hit 382 today.
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