Centre Pushes Long-Term NCR Strategy as Bhupender Yadav Reviews Delhi’s Air Pollution Plan

Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav on Monday reviewed Delhi's air pollution action plan at a high-level meeting and stressed the need for a long-term, coordinated strategy to tackle air pollution across the National Capital Region (NCR).

The meeting, held as part of the annual review mechanism, was attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, and senior officials from the Centre and the Delhi government.

Addressing the meeting, Yadav recalled that the union government had enacted a special law in 2021 and set up the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to deal with pollution in the NCR in a scientific and coordinated manner.

He said air pollution in the region is caused by both human activities and weather conditions, and cannot be solved through short-term measures alone.

On vehicular pollution, the minister underlined the importance of smart traffic management, especially at 62 identified congestion hotspots. He called for strict action against polluting vehicles and discussed steps such as special registration drives, use of Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras at border entry points, and staggered office timings to reduce peak-hour traffic.

Incentives for electric vehicles, expansion of charging infrastructure, congestion charges, smart parking systems and a uniform vehicle registration policy for the NCR were also reviewed. Yadav said public participation and behavioural change are essential for lasting results.

Reviewing industrial pollution, officials informed that 227 out of 240 industrial estates in the NCR have shifted to piped natural gas. However, illegal and non-conforming units operating outside designated areas remain a concern.

The minister directed strict action against such units, including sealing where necessary. The Central Pollution Control Board has issued notices to 88 industrial units for not installing online emission monitoring systems, with closure action to begin from January 23, 2026.

The meeting also took stock of construction and demolition waste management. Emphasis was laid on identifying dedicated disposal sites, restricting demolition during high pollution periods and working with recyclers for scientific waste handling. A construction and demolition waste processing plant at Tehkhand is expected to become operational this year.

Progress on installing flue gas desulphurisation systems in nearby thermal power plants and mandatory use of crop residue was also reviewed.

On road dust and pollution, Yadav stressed complete paving of roads, large-scale plantation of local shrubs and greening drives involving youth groups.

Over 3,300 km of roads in Delhi are planned to be redeveloped next year with dust control measures built into execution. Wider use of mechanised road sweeping machines, without diesel units, and quick repair of potholes were also discussed.

Yadav highlighted the need to strengthen public transport by expanding the Delhi Metro and city bus services, along with better last-mile connectivity under an integrated transport plan.

Officials said orders have been placed for 3,350 electric buses, which will be linked with the Metro network. Pilot projects to integrate e-autos, bike taxis and feeder cabs at major metro stations are planned by the end of January 2026.

Progress on clearing legacy waste at landfill sites was also reviewed. Timelines were reiterated for Okhla by July 2026, Bhalswa by October 2026 and Ghazipur by December 2027. Plans for waste collection centres, app-based services and new waste-to-energy plants were discussed.

CAQM informed the meeting that a scientific source-apportionment study has begun from January 2026 with institutions such as TERI and IITs. It was also noted that, except for the COVID year, 2025 recorded the best air quality levels since 2018. Officials said a coordinated action plan by all NCR states could lead to a 15 to 20 per cent improvement in air quality by the end of this year.