New Study: Delhi truck pollution is regional

A joint study by A-PAG, IIT Delhi, and TERI indicates that Delhi's truck pollution problem is increasingly driven by a regional freight network rather than transit traffic. The report found that 92% of heavy-duty trucks entering Delhi have the Capital as their destination, with most originating from and returning to NCR states.

This suggests that Delhi alone cannot resolve the issue, necessitating coordinated strategies across the NCR. Policymakers are urged to align on a common roadmap for measures like Low Emission Zones and electric vehicle transitions to tackle transport's significant contribution to Delhi's PM2.5 pollution.

The study questions phasing out trucks solely by age, recommending direct emissions measurement instead. It also advises against retrofitting older trucks due to unresolved issues. The research highlights that optimizing empty backhauls and consolidating urban freight could substantially cut emissions, with barring pre-BS-VI trucks showing the largest potential impact.

Researchers combined RFID toll records, driver surveys, and real-world emissions measurements. This approach captured actual truck emissions on Delhi's roads, providing crucial data for effective pollution control strategies within the NCR.