Air pollution in Rajasthan: Restrictions in old buses moving towards NCT owing to pollution

Jaipur: Starting Wednesday, there has been restrictions on vehicular movement in the state among districts which are falling under NCR and adjoining areas.


In Rajasthan, Alwar, Bharatpur and Bhiwadi are top contributors for poor air quality in the NCR and adjoining areas. So buses below BS-VI will not be allowed to run on the road. According to the classification of National Capital Region Planning Board, Alwar and Bharatpur come under NCR Sub-Region area category.

"All bus services between any NCR city / town in the State of Rajasthan and Delhi as also to any other city / town in NCR, shall be operated only through EV/CNG/BS-VI Diesel buses with effect from November 1, 2023. This shall also be applicable for bus services being operated by State PSUs and private entities etc," read an order by the Commission for Air Quality Management directed to Rajasthan.

"All bus services from non-NCR areas of Rajasthan to Delhi shall also be ensured through EV/CNG/BS-VI Diesel buses with effect from January 1, 2024," the order further read.

Last week, with the objective of strengthening efficient and cleaner public transport services within the National Capital Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has directed the State Governments of Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh (U.P.) for strict implementation of the targeted timelines in respect of the inter-city/ inter-state bus services serving Delhi and other cities/ towns in NCR.

As per the action plans formulated by the Rajasthan government, the state aims to replace or relocate older BS-III and BS-IV Diesel operated buses in a phased manner and plan to procure new BS-VI Diesel buses during 2023-24. For this, the state government is likely to procure 590 new BS-VI diesel buses beside outsourcing services of 440 BS-VI Diesel buses.

As per CPCB, Jaipur's AQI stood at 185 while that of Bharatpur and Bhiwadi at 280 and 285 respectively.