Commission for Air Quality Management urges states to use greener buses

New Delhi [India], October 20 : The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has instructed the State Governments of Haryana, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh for strict implementation of the targeted timelines in respect of the inter-city/interstate bus services serving Delhi and other cities/towns in NCR.
The instructions were issued in order to strengthen effective and cleaner public transport services within the National Capital Region (NCR).
According to an official press release from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, "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 and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has directed the State Governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh 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 Commission has held a series of meetings with the NCR States to develop detailed action plans for shifting to cleaner bus services in NCR, focusing on 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," it said.
The current availability of EV/ CNG/ BS-VI Diesel buses with the State governments, the 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, it further said.
As per the action, plans formulated by the State Governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and UP, the States aimed to replace and 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 under, it added.
It was also informed that procurement of CNG buses and EVs, as per the respective EV Policy, is also underway in the NCR.
As per the release, "An advisory dated 19.07.2023 was also issued by the Commission with the prime objective to ensure that with effect from 1.11.2023, 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, said the release.
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, it said.
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, from 1.11.2023, the 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 1.7.2024, added the release.
Further, the 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, it said.