The Delhi Traffic Police issued 433 challans for no-entry violations, checked 7,657 vehicles at the city’s borders and turned back 609 vehicles since Sunday for not meeting prescribed emission standards as part of its intensified enforcement drive under GRAP anti-pollution measures.
The second day of vehicle checks at Delhi’s interstate borders led to commuters being stranded for hours as long queues built up on roads connecting the national Capital with neighbouring Haryana and Uttar Pradesh.
Heavy congestion was reported at several entry points, including the Delhi-Gurugram, Delhi-Noida, Delhi-Ghaziabad, Delhi-Sonipat and Delhi-Najafgarh borders, as enforcement teams checked vehicles for compliance with prescribed emission standards. The traffic police also initiated action to suspend permits of 76 commercial vehicles for violating no-entry restrictions. Of the 76 vehicles, 10 were registered in Delhi and 66 in other States.
The checking was conducted between midnight on October 31 and noon on November 2 under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) guidelines.
While the process to suspend permits of the Delhi-registered vehicles has been initiated, recommendations for action against the remaining vehicles have been forwarded to the respective Regional Transport Authorities, according to the Delhi Traffic Police.
The enforcement drives come amid increased vehicular movement and public footfall during the ongoing festive season, with the traffic police also stepping up arrangements at major markets, arterial roads and transport hubs to regulate traffic and prevent congestion.
The Delhi-Gurugram border witnessed particularly heavy congestion, with traffic on NH-48 remaining backed up for several kilometres near the Sirhaul toll plaza. The snarls also affected the main carriageway and service roads.
Similar traffic jams were reported near Noida and Ghaziabad, where vehicles were stopped during checks. At the Aya Nagar border, Delhi Traffic Police and Transport Department enforcement teams turned back vehicles that did not meet the prescribed BS-VI emission standards.
Senior Delhi Traffic Police officers said all borders under different ranges were following the pollution-control guidelines, adding that vehicles below BS-VI standards were being sent back. Fines were also being issued for violations and incomplete vehicle documentation.
The restrictions came into effect on November 1 as part of the winter pollution-control measures. Under the arrangement, petrol and diesel vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not comply with BS-VI emission standards are barred from entering the national Capital.
Electric and CNG vehicles, along with BS-VI-compliant vehicles, are exempt from the restrictions.
The enforcement is being jointly carried out by the Delhi Environment and Transport Departments, along with the traffic police, at several entry points, including Rajokri on NH-48, DND Flyway, Ghazipur, Singhu, Tikri and Badarpur.
The Northern Range of the Delhi Traffic Police said special enforcement teams had been deployed at various border points to ensure the implementation of the prescribed restrictions.
“From midnight on November 1 to noon on November 2, a total of 7,657 vehicles were checked, of which 609 non-compliant vehicles were turned back,” the Northern Range said in a statement.
The drive was aimed at ensuring adherence to GRAP-related vehicle restrictions and preventing the entry of vehicles that did not meet the prescribed emission standards, it added.
Separately, the Central Range of the Delhi Traffic Police has established 12 special traffic pickets at strategic locations to prevent the unauthorised movement of heavy and commercial vehicles during no-entry hours.
These include Rajghat, IP Flyover, Yudhishthir Setu, Shanti Van Chowk, Burari Flyover, Pinjra T-Point, Inderlok and Chandgi Ram Akhara.
As part of the festive-season arrangements, additional traffic personnel have been deployed at major markets, including Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh and Chandni Chowk, and transport hubs such as ISBT Kashmere Gate, New Delhi Railway Station and Old Delhi Railway Station.
One additional company of police personnel and around 100 Delhi Home Guards are being deployed daily at major intersections and congestion-prone stretches, including Hanuman Setu Under, Chatta Rail Junction, Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Road, Netaji Subhash Marg, Mori Gate and Burari.
The Central Range also conducted 27 encroachment removal drives across major markets and congestion-prone stretches during the last week, issuing 1,974 challans.
During these drives, 389 rehris and patris were removed, 1,231 vehicles were clamped, 112 vehicles were towed away, and 78 obstructive articles were seized, the police said.
The drives covered Sadar Bazar, Karol Bagh Market, approaches to New Delhi Railway Station, ISBT Kashmere Gate, Bhavbhuti Marg, Boulevard Road, Lothian Road, HC Sen Marg and SP Mukherjee Marg.
Shopkeepers were asked to keep roads and footpaths free from encroachments, while motorists were advised to use designated parking facilities, follow no-entry restrictions and comply with directions issued by traffic personnel.