New Delhi GRAP Rules; Restrictions in NCR October 2026: Petrol vs Diesel vs CNG vs EV — Check Car Ban Guidelines Here | Today’s news
Delhi-NCR has a revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for winter pollution in 2026, with the Commission on Air Quality Management (CAQM) tightening several measures related to vehicles, buildings and sources of pollution. Key changes include extending restrictions to some petrol and diesel cars at Sonipat.
The revised framework contains 48 measures in four phases, with some restrictions coming into force at an earlier phase and some exemptions removed.
When will the car restrictions apply?
Restrictions on certain private cars will come into effect under GRAP Phase III. At this stage, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light motor vehicles (four-wheelers) face restrictions in Delhi and the high-density areas of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar and Sonipat.
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Sonipat is the latest addition to this list; the restriction was previously applicable to four other NCR districts.
Petrol vs diesel vs CNG vs EV: Which cars are restricted?
Vehicle Type GRAP Tier III Location BS-III Petrol Restricted to Delhi and Five Specified Districts NCR BS-IV Diesel Restricted to Delhi and Five Specified Districts NCRCGNGNNot applicable to this specific restriction for passenger carsEVNot applicable to this specific restriction for passenger cars
The restriction is based on the emission category of the Bharat Stage vehicle, not just its year of registration or age.
What about BS-VI petrol and diesel cars?
The Stage III provision specifically applies to BS-III petrol and diesel ATVs. Therefore, BS-VI private cars do not fall under this particular restriction for riding on board.
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However, other GRAP measures may apply separately to different categories of vehicles, including buses and trucks.
Are CNG and EV cars banned?
Private CNG and electric cars are not included in the Stage III restriction, which applies to BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers.
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This is specific to passenger car restrictions. Other applicable requirements, including valid pollution control documentation if required, continue to apply.
What will happen to the trucks?
The revised GRAP has removed the earlier exemption for BS-IV trucks and below carrying essential commodities under Stages III and IV.
Under Stage III, restrictions apply to specified BS-IV vehicles and lower light and medium trucks, while Stage IV includes restrictions on trucks and heavy trucks. The revised schedule also clearly lays down restrictions on the entry of BS-IV diesel and non-Delhi registered light and medium trucks into Delhi.
What about buses entering Delhi-NCR?
Restrictions for some intercity and interstate buses have been moved from II. stages of GRAP to Stage I, which means they will start earlier as pollution levels increase.
Under Phase I, buses from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and adjoining states including Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir will not be allowed to ply in Delhi-NCR unless they are electric, CNG or BS-VI diesel.
The move expands earlier restrictions that applied in Phase II to a narrower set of states.
What has changed for construction and demolition?
CAQM has also amended Guidelines 11 to 18, originally issued in 2021, which deal with monitoring and dust control measures at Construction and Demolition (C&D) in NCR.
The existing provisions include online registration and tracking of eligible C&D projects, while the limit of land areas of 500 square meters or more remains unchanged.
The main change is the extension of these provisions beyond the boundaries of the municipal authority or municipality. They now cover eligible projects in Urban Areas, Controlled Areas, Development Areas or Industrial Development Areas, Industrial Areas or Zones and Highway Corridor Zones in NCR States, as per the respective planning frameworks.
How is it with dust monitoring on construction sites?
CAQM has strengthened the monitoring of construction and demolition (C&D) activities as part of its wider efforts to control dust pollution. The revised guidelines extend the existing web portal registration and monitoring mechanism to eligible projects located outside municipal boundaries.
CAQM member SD Attri said the commission plans to introduce mandatory display of PM10 and PM2.5 levels at construction and demolition sites of more than 500 square meters to make pollution concentrations visible to the public, the Times of India reported.
What other GRAP rules have changed?
Restrictions on diesel generator sets and entry of some BS-IV and below buses have been moved from II. stage to stage I, whereby these measures entered into force earlier in case of air quality deterioration.
The revised schedule also consolidates several repeated provisions related to dust control, municipal solid waste management and transportation under Stage I. In Stage III, a limited release was introduced for some pothole repair work despite restrictions on construction and demolition activities.
