Overview
- A joint study released Monday by A-PAG, IIT Delhi and TERI and a separate MoRTH analysis show heavy-duty trucks and buses make up roughly 2.5–3% of India’s fleet but account for about 35–36% of transport-related PM2.5 nationally and a large share in Delhi.
- The research estimates about 16,900–17,000 interstate heavy trucks enter Delhi each day and that these vehicles contribute roughly 23% of transport PM2.5 over a full day and nearly 61% during night and early-morning hours when freight movement is concentrated.
- Older diesel trucks drive most of the pollution: pre-BS-VI vehicles cause about 62% of PM2.5 from interstate freight and diesel trucks account for about 56% of particulate emissions, while RFID toll records undercount entries by roughly 20% (13,400 recorded versus ~16,900 estimated).
- Among seven modeled measures, banning pre-BS-VI trucks from Delhi by 2027 is the single largest step and could cut PM2.5 from interstate trucks by about 51%; the study also recommends fleet modernization, digital freight matching, electrification and focused enforcement at key tolls.
- The ministry of road transport and highways is advancing a technology-neutral BS VII review and an overhaul of Pollution Under Control testing that includes geo-tagging and encrypted data, and experts say regional cooperation and reducing empty return trips are needed to make city-level gains stick.