NOIDA: A move to reduce pollution precipitated more emissions by triggering jams at state borders on Thursday as Delhi’s restrictions on entry of private vehicles from other cities below BS-VI emission standards came into force,Barricades set up at major entry points, including Ghazipur, Chilla, DND Flyway and Kalindi Kunj, led to long tailbacks during the morning rush hour. By 9am, queues of vehicles stretched beyond a kilometre at some locations, forcing police to temporarily remove barricades to ease traffic before reinstating them later to resume checks.
The restrictions are part of the Delhi govt’s latest measures to check worsening air pollution. Officials said the restriction is expected to directly affect more than 5 lakh vehicles registered in Noida alone. On the road, the move drew the wrath of commuters, many of whom work in Delhi and live in NCR or vice-versa and have to commute across the borders daily. Noida DCP (traffic) Pravin Ranjan Singh said enforcement was coordinated between Delhi and UP police. “Delhi traffic police placed barricades on their side of the border, while Noida traffic police installed barricades near Noida Gate red light. Vehicles were stopped for checking, and those found non-compliant were asked to take a U-turn,” he said, adding that traffic movement slowed significantly during peak hours but improved as the day progressed.At Kalindi Kunj, near the Okhla Bird Sanctuary Metro station, a joint team of around 10 traffic personnel from Delhi and Noida was stationed on Thursday. Vehicles found violating the norms were diverted towards Sector 94, made to take a U-turn and sent back to Noida via the underpass.Officials said nearly 150 BS-III and BS-IV vehicles were intercepted and turned back at Kalindi Kunj alone during the day. Similar checks were carried out at the DND Flyway, where vehicles were stopped near the toll plaza and directed to return, and at the Chilla border, where traffic police managed turnbacks at the red light.Around 200 vehicles each were stopped and returned at the DND Flyway and Chilla crossings, police said. Similar checks were also in place at Ghaziabad border. For commuters, the ban has disrupted daily routines. Jitendra Kumar, a resident of Sector 78, said he owns a BS-IV Honda Brio, which he uses to travel to his workplace in Delhi. “With the ban in place, I can no longer use my car,” he said. “I have to depend on carpooling or public transport. These decisions feel knee-jerk, especially when public transport alternatives are not strengthened in advance.”Others questioned the focus on vehicles. Sanjeev Kumar, a Sector 51 resident who owns a BS-III Volkswagen Vento, said his car was well-maintained but still barred from entering Delhi. “Vehicles alone are not responsible for pollution,” he said. “Construction dust, demolition debris and garbage burning are major contributors, yet monitoring there remains weak. Solving pollution needs a coordinated, long-term approach.“Police said round-the-clock deployment will remain in place at three major Noida-Delhi borders to intercept non-compliant vehicles on Friday too.
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