Heavy Traffic Jams at Delhi Borders Amid Intensified GRAP Enforcement

The Delhi Traffic Police issued 433 challans for no-entry violations and turned back 609 vehicles for failing to meet prescribed emission standards during an intensified enforcement drive under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), officials said.

A total of 7,657 vehicles were checked at the city's borders between midnight on October 31 and noon on November 2 as authorities stepped up measures to curb vehicular pollution.The checks triggered heavy traffic congestion at several entry points, including the Delhi-Gurugram, Delhi-Noida and Delhi-Ghaziabad borders. Traffic on NH-48 remained backed up for several kilometres near the Sirhaul toll plaza, leaving commuters stranded for hours.

The traffic police also initiated action to suspend permits of 76 commercial vehicles for violating no-entry restrictions. Of these, 10 were registered in Delhi and 66 in other states. Recommendations for action against vehicles registered outside Delhi have been forwarded to the respective Regional Transport Authorities.

Under restrictions effective November 1, petrol and diesel vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards are barred from entering the capital. Electric, CNG and BS-VI-compliant vehicles are exempt.

Enforcement teams from the Delhi Environment and Transport Departments, along with the traffic police, have been deployed at several border points, including Rajokri, DND Flyway, Ghazipur, Singhu, Tikri and Badarpur.Separately, the Central Range established 12 special traffic pickets to prevent unauthorised movement of heavy and commercial vehicles during no-entry hours.

The police also conducted 27 anti-encroachment drives across major markets and congestion-prone stretches in the previous week, issuing 1,974 challans. During the operations, 389 roadside carts and stalls were removed, 1,231 vehicles clamped, 112 towed and 78 obstructive articles seized.

Additional personnel have been deployed at major markets and transport hubs to manage festive-season traffic. The police appealed to traders and motorists to cooperate with the measures and keep roads and footpaths free from obstructions.