The Supreme Court has banned registration of diesel-run SUVs and cars with an engine capacity beyond 2,000 cc, in Delhi and the National Capital Region till March 31 next year. On Wednesday, the court unveiled a slew of measures to curb the alarming rise in pollution levels in the city.
Restricting the entry of commercial vehicles that are not Delhi bound, a Bench headed by Chief Justice TS Thakur also ordered a 100 per cent hike in the Environment Compensation Charge (ECC) being levied on light and heavy trucks using Delhi roads.
The Bench, also comprising justices AK Sikri and R Banumathi, made it clear that commercial vehicles registered prior to 2005 will not be allowed to enter Delhi.
The court had on October 9 ordered light duty vehicles to pay ₹700 and three-axle vehicles ₹1,300 to enter Delhi from November 1 as ECC, in addition to the toll tax, in a bid to check the high pollution levels in the city.
Now, light duty vehicles will have to pay ₹1,400 and three-axle vehicles ₹2,600 as ECC to enter the national capital.
It also said that for the time being commercial vehicles that are not Delhi bound shall not be allowed to enter Delhi through National Highway 8 and NH 1.
The Bench, in one of its directions, also made it clear that only CNG-run taxis would be permitted to ply in Delhi and the NCR.
It clarified that the order banning registration of diesel-run vehicles, which will be operational from January 1 to March 31 next year, will not include cars whose engine capacity is below 2,000 cc.