Delhi grapples with rising pollution levels, hazardous AQI readings, and low visibility. The government has issued a prohibition order for BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles till Friday.
The national capital’s average air quality (AQI) worsened from 371 to 434 at 4 pm.
When asked about the worsening situation in the region and long-term measures that are expected to be put in place. Kundra said that the government has been promoting the usage of green vehicles. The idea is to get rid of old polluting vehicles.
“We are extensively promoting electric vehicles and the adoption of them in Delhi is the highest in the country. In 2022, almost 10 percent of new vehicle registration came from EVs, in December it went up to 16 percent. In the electric three-wheeler cargo it was around 60 percent in 2022,” said Kundra.
The government also was looking to convert 80 percent of the buses in the region to electric by 2025.
“We have already inducted 300 e-buses and have placed an order for nearly 1,500 more. Two days back there was a tender for 4,000 more e-buses and we will soon be out with a tender for 2,500 more e-buses,” reveals Kundra.
Speaking on the temporary ban on BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles and the potential challenges for the common man, Kundra said that “Delhi with its extensive Metro network, along with the bus and other last-mile transportation vehicles was efficiently equipped to not create challenges for mobility needs.”
