A new study calls for a coordinated, data driven policy approach that aligns regulations, enforcement and incentives across jurisdiction to address freight emissions in the region
Air pollution remains a significant problem for Delhi, especially in the winters when the city slips into a public health emergency. As temperatures fall and atmospheric conditions trap pollutants to the surface, the region is shrouded by dense haze that pushes air quality to hazardous levels. The consequences rip through normal everyday life of citizens. While the crisis is fuelled by multiple sources, including crop residue burning, dust and industrial emissions, diesel powered vehicles especially the trucks remain one of the significant local contributors.
The heavy duty trucks, the indispensable workhorses of India’s freight economy, emit disproportionately high levels of particulate matter, making it absolutely necessary to decarbonise this fleet. The Indian government has been consistently trying to scale up this transition through various incentives and bringing about drastic changes in the mobility ecosystem. Among the many measures taken by the government, the recent one stands out, especially when it comes to Delhi and mitigating its urban air pollution menace.
India recently announced a new incentive scheme to phase out older Bharat Stage (BS) Stage IV trucks and replace them with BS VI and electric vehicles in the Delhi-NCR region. The initiative marks a significant step towards decarbonising the country’s road transport sector. As the most rigorous government-mandated standard for vehicular emissions and the counterpart to Euro 6 norms, BS-VI aims to lower atmospheric pollutants.
According to reports, the scheme will offer a 5% interest subvention on loans for five years and monthly fuel vouchers of up to ₹4,800 for vehicle owners. At the same time, manufacturers will provide an 8% discount on the ex-showroom price of new vehicles purchased under the scheme.
While the government has been the first movers to tackle this problem through this initiative, a recent study done by Air Pollution Action Group (A-PAG), Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IIT Delhi) and The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) maintained that the transport sector contributes approximately 18-24% of PM 2.5 concentrations, with freight vehicles especially the Heavy Duty Vehicles (HDVs) accounting for a disproportionate share due to their diesel use, age profile and high utilisation.
The study aimed to build evidence-based understanding of the scale and characteristics of interstate truck movement, their real-world emission profile and mitigation strategies. The study found that around 16,900 HDVs enter Delhi each day, around 20% higher than entries captured on RFID data daily. It also found a higher presence of HDVs at night relative to passenger vehicles. Around “75% of recorded entries over a month are repeat entries by the same trucks with each truck entering Delhi about four times per month on average,” the study said.
Fig 1: Trucks lined up on a road. File Photo by IANS
It also found that diesel dominated the fleet composition and not trip frequency while pre-BSIV trucks constituted a significant share of the fleet, accounting for around 62% of trucks. “63% of trucks entering Delhi originate from states in the NCR and 77% of trucks are registered in NCR states,” it said, adding that geographical concentration of trucks is also “highly skewed”.
The study, titled "Towards Cleaner Freight in Delhi – Assessing interstate truck emissions and mitigation strategies” – said that 92% of trucks reported Delhi as their destination while a mere 8% reported bypassing the city. It said,” Interstate trucks emit roughly 52Kg of PM2.5, 3 tonnes of NOx and 2.5 tonnes of CO as primary pollutants each day, making it 18.9 tonnes of PM2.5, 1095 tonnes of NOx and 912.5 tonnes of CO annually”, adding that Pre BS VI and diesel trucks remain the “usual suspects”.
As part of the strategies to mitigate this problem, the study suggested a number of steps that includes reduction of freight trips owing to UCC (CNG and EV trucking), arguing that UCCs consolidate freight at the city periphery and shift to cleaner last mile, thus reducing trips, congestions and emissions. It also advocated shifting to electric trucks, implementing which, it said, would require development of charging infrastructure, grid readiness and financing.
It also proposed stricter enforcement through payload sensors and ban on entry of pre-BSVI trucks to eliminate high emitting vehicles. Among the other strategies, the study proposed reduction in the number of trips by optimising empty backhauls and phasing out based on fitness criteria. “Truck movement patterns and operational realities cut across NCR boundaries. Freight emissions in Delhi cannot be addressed through fragmented action but needs a coordinated, data driven policy approach that aligns regulations, enforcement and incentives across jurisdiction,” it added.
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