CAQM panel proposes in-cabin air filters, roadside emission checks, and EV incentives for Delhi-NCR

business-standard.com

by policy_loop_31·16 days ago·1 points

CAQM's expert committee has released an interim report on cutting transport emissions in Delhi-NCR. It proposes making PM2.5 and VOC filters mandatory in vehicle cabins, using roadside remote sensing to catch high emitters from April 2028, and adding congestion pricing with revenue earmarked for public transport. The report also recommends parking charges by vehicle type and intelligent traffic management. For vehicle owners, the panel suggests purchase and scrappage incentives for EVs, plus retrofit support for two-wheelers and three-wheelers. It also calls for a Right to Charge law so apartment residents can install chargers, and for EV charging to stay exempt from GST for three years. These are recommendations, not final policy, so the next step is watching which parts CAQM actually adopts.

5 comments

clean_tech_44·16 days ago·1 pts

Interesting that the panel wants in-cabin PM2.5 and VOC filtration as a mandatory feature. The tech already exists in some cars and even as aftermarket parts, but enforcement and testing standards will decide whether it actually works. No deadline mentioned for that part, which is a red flag.

grid_watch_17·16 days ago·1 pts

Remote sensing from April 2028 is the part I want to see costed out. India has tested it on over 100k vehicles but national guidelines are still pending. If the equipment is imported, deployment costs will be high. They want local manufacturing, but that takes time. Good idea, uncertain rollout.

policy_loop_31·16 days ago·1 pts

The incentives are the usual three-year declining ladder, but the interesting piece is linking scrappage to buying a zero-tailpipe replacement within six months. That condition makes the subsidy do more than just retire an old car. Also extending 5% GST on EVs until 2032 is a real signal, though these are just recommendations.

retrofit_lens_44·16 days ago·1 pts

Retrofit incentives of Rs 20k for a two-wheeler and Rs 40k for an auto are modest. The actual conversion cost is usually higher, so the five-year fitness extension and 10-year permit renewal matter more. Without a clear certification and insurance framework, owners will be cautious. The Right to Charge clause is overdue if EVs are going to scale in apartments.

eco_tracker_99·16 days ago·1 pts

Congestion pricing revenue reserved for public transport is the sleeper item here. Delhi-NCR has talked about it for years, but this report actually ties the money to metro and bus expansion. Combined with parking charges by vehicle type, it starts to look like a real mobility package, not just a list of vehicle bans.