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Delhi Pollution Curbs Snarl Borders
2 Nov
Summary
- New Delhi's winter pollution curbs caused significant traffic jams at city borders on Sunday.
- The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) rose to 261, its worst reading of the season.
- Vehicles entering Delhi faced emission checks as enforcement teams worked round-the-clock.
Delhi's newly implemented winter pollution control measures triggered significant traffic jams at the city's entry points on Sunday, the first day of enforcement. The national capital's Air Quality Index (AQI) surged to 261, its highest reading in 198 days and the worst of the current season. Heavy congestion was reported along the Delhi-Gurugram and Delhi-Noida borders as traffic police and enforcement teams meticulously checked vehicles for emission compliance.
Commuters experienced extensive delays, with vehicles lining up for hours at Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) toll booths and other entry points across the National Capital Region. These restrictions, in effect until February 28, include checks on older vehicles, a ban on construction activities, doubled parking fees, and a 50% work-from-home mandate for offices. Enforcement teams are conducting round-the-clock inspections using automatic number plate recognition cameras.
While transport emissions accounted for 16.4% of Delhi's pollution on Sunday, stubble burning contributed up to 18.5%. The Air Quality Early Warning System forecasts that Delhi's air quality is likely to remain in the poor to very poor category for the coming week. The effectiveness of these measures is under scrutiny amid public concern over traffic management and commuter inconvenience.
