UP Govt To Ban 10-Year-Old Diesel And 15-Year-Old Petrol Vehicles In THESE Delhi-NCR Districts By 2026 | Details

In a major step to tackle rising air pollution across the National Capital Region (NCR), the Uttar Pradesh government has announced a ban on the operation of old vehicles in four NCR districts starting November 1, 2026.

According to the new directive, diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years will no longer be allowed to operate in Gautam Buddh Nagar, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, and Hapur.

The decision was made following a review meeting held at the Greater Noida Authority auditorium, chaired by State Minister for Forest and Environment Dr. Arun Kumar Saxena, Chief Secretary Anil Kumar, and UP Pollution Control Board Chairman Dr. R.P. Singh.

Key Pollution Control Data

During the meeting, officials revealed that since 2023, 2,552 vehicles have been seized, while 20,075 have been issued No Objection Certificates (NOCs). Pollution hotspots were identified as seven in Gautam Buddh Nagar, five each in Ghaziabad and Bulandshahr, and two in Hapur.

District authorities were praised for their efforts in road cleaning and dust management. Currently, Gautam Buddh Nagar uses 224 water sprinklers and 94 anti-smog guns, Ghaziabad uses 41 sprinklers and 107 anti-smog guns, while Bulandshahr and Hapur have also deployed similar equipment to reduce dust pollution.

Officials confirmed that more than 1,100 old vehicles have already been penalized this year through fines, impoundments, and other enforcement measures. The government has also intensified checks on industrial emissions, waste burning, and roadside dust, emphasizing the use of mechanical sweeping and regular water sprinkling to control air quality.

Reduction in stubble burning cases

Authorities have instructed intensive fogging, sprinkling, and cleaning drives in pollution hotspot areas across Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Bulandshahr, and Hapur to further improve air quality.

Chief Secretary Anil Kumar said that the seasonal rise in pollution is not limited to Delhi-NCR but affects the entire northern region due to the formation of an “air shed”, which traps pollutants near the ground. He stated that the government aims to reduce PM2.5 and PM10 levels by 20-30 per cent across NCR districts.