CAQM Directs Aggregators And E-Commerce Operators To Stop Adding Petrol, Diesel Vehicles From 2026

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued a directive targeting vehicle pollution caused by commercial operations in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR). The order applies to aggregators offering passenger transport, delivery services and e-commerce logistics.

From January 1, 2026, only CNG or electric vehicles will be permitted for addition into existing fleets operated by aggregators and delivery providers in Delhi-NCR. This restriction will apply to 3-wheeler autorickshaws, 4-wheeler light commercial vehicles (LCVs), 4-wheeler light goods vehicles (LGVs) under the N1 category (up to 3.5 tonnes) and 2-wheelers. Vehicles powered solely by petrol or diesel will no longer be allowed for fleet expansion. The existing fleet of vehicles onboarded by these service providers can be continued for such services.

The current fleet of internal combustion engine vehicles already onboarded by service providers can continue operating. However, no new additions will be allowed unless they meet the clean fuel requirements outlined in the directive.

Mr. Raghav Arora, Co Founder & CTO, Statiq, said, “As Delhi takes a bold step forward in advancing clean mobility, Statiq is proud to support this transformative initiative with our robust EV charging infrastructure across the Delhi-NCR region. Electric vehicles represent the future of sustainable transportation and play a critical role in combating urban air pollution. At Statiq, our mission is to make EV adoption seamless and accessible for everyone, ensuring that choosing a cleaner, greener mode of transport never means compromising on convenience. By expanding our network and collaborating with forward-thinking partners, we are not just enabling the shift to electric vehicles—we are empowering every citizen to be a part of India’s journey towards cleaner air, healthier cities, and a truly sustainable future.”

The CAQM has urged state governments in Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan to align with Delhi’s policies by creating similar regulations. Focus areas include high vehicle density zones such as Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad.

Krishna K Jasti, Founder & CEO, of EVRE, welcomes this move by CAQM and suggests that it will be a catalyst for sectoral growth and scalability in EV charger manufacturing, saying, “The directive from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) is a welcome change to strengthen electric mobility in Delhi-NCR. The National Capital Region has been facing the brunt of air pollution caused by transportation of conventional vehicles, and this directive will not only address this to a significant extent, but also bolster the scalability aspects for EV and EVSE manufacturing and sales going forward. Government data suggests that over 13 lakh electric vehicles, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers and four-wheelers are already operating in the region, and with this directive, we expect the number to go much higher. To sustain the focus on EVs for commercial purposes, especially in the two-wheeler and three-wheeler segments, manufacturing capacity for EV chargers will have to go up considerably, and initial projections suggest that sales will also witness upward movement substantially. However, it is not possible to predict a definitive figure at the moment since it is a developing aspect, but we figure it will help the general sectoral growth to go up drastically.”

For effective monitoring and implementation of the above Directions, Governments of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have been directed to develop a web portal, as has already been developed by the Transport Department, GNCTD and NCR State Governments have to accord wide publicity to disseminate these Directions through media and other means.

Suyash Gupta, Director General of Indian Auto LPG Coalition, said, “This is a commendable move by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to restrict the addition of new diesel and petrol vehicles to e-commerce and aggregator fleets in the Delhi-NCR region from January 1 next year. Such decisive action is a significant milestone in India’s journey towards clean mobility and reflects a strong commitment to addressing the rising pollution issues in one of the country’s most critical regions. However, to achieve even more impactful and immediate results in curbing air pollution, it is essential that the retrofitment policy is brought into motion. With over 33 crore petrol and diesel vehicles already on our roads, an outright ban or phase-out is simply not feasible in the short term. .”