The Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM), on May 15, 2026, issued directions mandating that only electric 3-wheelers (L5 category for passenger and goods transport) shall be newly registered across Delhi-NCR in a phased manner to curb vehicular pollution and reduce PM2.5 emissions. The direction has been issued under Section 12 of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.
The notification notes that 3-wheelers contribute disproportionately to particulate emissions despite their relatively small share in vehicle stock. Based on recommendations of an Expert Committee constituted in December 2025, CAQM observed that electric 3-wheelers are operationally feasible due to short-distance urban usage and the growing battery swapping ecosystem. The direction also highlights that transition to 100% EV-based new 3-wheeler sales may significantly reduce annual PM2.5 emissions in NCR.
As per the phased implementation schedule, only electric 3-wheelers will be permitted for new registration in Delhi from January 1, 2027; in high vehicle density NCR districts including Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar from January 1, 2028; and across the remaining NCR districts from January 1, 2029. State Governments and the GNCTD have been directed to ensure strict implementation and wide publicity of the direction.
[Direction No. 100]
