Towards the objective of strengthening efficient and cleaner public transport services within the National Capital Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has directed the State Governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) for strict implementation of the targeted timelines in respect of the inter-city/ inter-state bus services serving Delhi and other cities/ towns in NCR. The targeted timelines for the States are as under:
The Commission has held a series of meetings with the NCR States for developing detailed action plans for shifting to cleaner bus services in NCR, focusing that bus services in the entire NCR to be targeted for EVs in the long-term (within 5 years), through EVs / CNG buses in the medium-term (within 3 years) and in the interim through EVs / CNG/ BS-VI diesel buses. The current availability of EV/ CNG/ BS-VI Diesel buses with the State Govts., total requirement of such buses to cater to various services from different areas of the respective states to Delhi and other NCR areas, and the status of new procurements of such buses by these States were also deliberated upon in detail during the meetings.
As per the actions plans formulated by the State Governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and U.P., the States aimed to replace/ relocate older BS-III and BS-IV Diesel operated buses in a phased manner and plan to procure new BS-VI Diesel buses during 2023-24 as under:
- Haryana – 1313 new BS-VI Diesel buses.
- Rajasthan – 590 new BS-VI Diesel buses, besides outsourcing services of 440 BS-VI Diesel buses.
- Uttar Pradesh – More than 1650 new BS-VI Diesel buses.
It was also informed that procurement of CNG buses and EVs, as per the respective EV Policy, is also underway in the NCR.
An Advisory dated 19.07.2023 was also issued by the Commission with the prime objective to ensure that with effect from 01.11.2023, all buses originating from NCR areas in the respective states and travelling to Delhi are either EVs or CNG or BS‑VI Diesel.
Based on the plans for procurement of new BS-VI Diesel / CNG buses / EVs by the respective NCR states and the exercise conducted by them for relocation of older Diesel buses (BS-IV and below) to areas other than NCR, the CAQM, with due confirmation from the NCR States on the feasibility, vide Direction No. 78 dated 19.10.2023, has directed State Governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and U.P. for strict implementation of the targeted timelines in respect of the inter-city/ inter-state bus services serving Delhi and other cities/ towns in NCR as under:
Haryana
- All bus services between any city / town in the State of Haryana and Delhi shall be operated only through EV/CNG/BS-VI Diesel buses w.e.f 01.11.2023.
Rajasthan
- All bus services between any NCR city / town in the State of Rajasthan and Delhi as also to any other city / town in NCR, shall be operated only through EV/CNG/BS-VI Diesel buses w.e.f 01.11.2023.
- All bus services from non-NCR areas of Rajasthan to Delhi shall also be ensured through EV/CNG/BS-VI Diesel buses w.e.f 01.01.2024.
Uttar Pradesh
- All bus services between any NCR city / town in the State of Uttar Pradesh and Delhi shall be operated only through EV/CNG/BS-VI Diesel buses w.e.f 01.11.2023.
- All the bus services plying within the 8 NCR districts of UP, shall also be through BS-VI Diesel compliant buses w.e.f. 01.04.2024.
- All buses operating between non-NCR areas of the State to Delhi and NCR areas of other States shall also be ensured through BS-VI diesel compliant buses w.e.f. 01.07.2024.
These Directions would also be applicable to all bus services being operated by respective State PSUs and private entities etc.
In effect, w.e.f. 01.11.2023, bulk of bus services from any city / town in the States of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh to Delhi shall be only with EV/ CNG/ BS-VI Diesel buses. Operation of only EV/ CNG/ BS-VI Diesel buses in the entire NCR is also expected to be in effect from 01.07.2024.
Further, Transport Department/ Traffic Police Department of GNCTD and all the NCR States have been accordingly directed to ensure strict compliance through regular monitoring of the field level implementation, including for bus services being operated by State PSUs and private entities etc.
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MJPS/NSK
