Delhi’s border points witnessed strict vehicle checks on Thursday as enforcement agencies intensified action under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) following a sharp deterioration in air quality. A thick blanket of smog covered key entry points, including the Delhi-Noida Direct (DND) Flyway, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) near the Chilla border slipping to around 490, placing it in the hazardous category.

Officials from the Delhi transport department and traffic police were seen stopping vehicles registered outside the capital, particularly those that did not meet BS VI emission standards. Non-compliant vehicles were either fined Rs 20,000 or asked to turn back from the border.

According to transport department officials supervising the checks, teams are verifying vehicle compliance using portable devices that allow instant confirmation of registration details, emission norms and Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) validity. Drivers without valid PUCCs are also being penalised.

Old and non-BS VI vehicles under scanner

Barricades were placed along key routes to slow traffic and enable thorough inspection. Enforcement teams are specifically targeting vehicles that appear old or do not carry blue stickers indicating BS VI compliance. Traffic personnel from neighbouring states are also part of the joint operation at border points.

Officers said that diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years, especially those meeting BS-III or lower emission standards, are being stopped and fined as per existing rules. Authorities maintained that these measures are part of emergency steps to limit vehicular pollution during the winter peak.

Commuters voice frustration over enforcement

Some motorists expressed dissatisfaction with the sudden enforcement drive. A commuter from Faridabad, whose BS-III vehicle was stopped at the border, questioned the fairness of the checks, arguing that ordinary drivers were being penalised while larger systemic issues remained unaddressed. He also raised concerns about the lack of uniform checks on public transport vehicles.

Officials, however, said awareness about vehicular pollution norms has been repeatedly communicated and that enforcement teams have been deployed across all major entry points to prevent violators from using alternate routes to enter the city.

Vehicles a major contributor to winter pollution

Data shared by officials indicates that transport accounts for over 20% of PM2.5 pollution during winter months in Delhi-NCR. Of the nearly 2.88 crore vehicles in the region, about 93% are light motor vehicles and two-wheelers, while nearly 37% fall under BS-III or older categories. These older vehicles emit significantly higher levels of particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide compared to newer models.

Experts cited in media reports have pointed out that while vehicle restrictions may offer temporary relief, long-term solutions are necessary. Concerns have also been raised about the effectiveness of the existing PUC system, which does not adequately measure particulate emissions, and the need for stronger scrappage policies and improved public transport to address cross-border pollution.

Former transport officials have criticised what they described as last-minute enforcement measures, calling for consistent tailpipe emission checks, better inter-state coordination and the creation of a dedicated pollution control task force to tackle vehicular emissions more sustainably.

Indian Railways passengers will have to pay additional charges if they carry luggage beyond the prescribed free allowance during train journeys. The clarification was given by Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw in the Lok Sabha, outlining existing class-wise baggage norms and the charges applicable for excess weight.

The minister explained that Indian Railways already follows a structured luggage policy, under which passengers are allowed a fixed free allowance depending on their travel class, with a defined maximum limit that cannot be exceeded inside passenger compartments.

Class-wise luggage limits explained

According to the details shared in Parliament, passengers travelling in Second Class are permitted to carry up to 35 kg of luggage free of cost. They can carry additional luggage up to 70 kg, but only after paying the prescribed charges.

For Sleeper Class travellers, the free allowance stands at 40 kg, with the maximum permissible limit capped at 80 kg, including the free allowance. Passengers in AC 3 Tier and AC Chair Car are allowed to carry 40 kg of luggage, which is also the upper limit for these classes.

First Class and AC 2 Tier passengers can carry up to 50 kg of luggage free of cost, with a maximum limit of 100 kg. AC First Class passengers have the highest allowance, with 70 kg permitted free and up to 150 kg allowed on a chargeable basis.

The railway minister clarified that the maximum limit in each class includes the free allowance and that passengers cannot exceed this limit inside the compartments.

Charges for excess luggage and size restrictions

Vaishnaw stated that passengers carrying luggage beyond the free allowance, but within the maximum limit, are required to pay charges at 1.5 times the standard luggage rate. Such excess luggage can be carried along with the passenger inside the compartment after payment.

The Railways also impose size restrictions on personal luggage. Trunks, suitcases and boxes with outer dimensions up to 100 cm × 60 cm × 25 cm are allowed in passenger compartments. Items exceeding any one of these dimensions must be booked separately and carried in brake vans or parcel vans, not inside passenger coaches.

The minister further clarified that merchandise items are not permitted to be carried as personal luggage in passenger compartments. Any luggage beyond the prescribed limits is required to be booked and transported in the brake van of the train, subject to existing booking norms.

The Lok Sabha on Wednesday passed the Sustainable Harnessing and Advancement of Nuclear Energy for Transforming India (SHANTI) Bill, a move that allows private players to enter India’s tightly regulated civil nuclear sector. The legislation was approved through a voice vote, even as opposition members staged a walkout during the discussion.

Union minister Jitendra Singh described the passage of the bill as a milestone, saying it would help the country move closer to its long-term clean energy goals. According to the minister, the legislation is aligned with India’s ambition to generate 100 gigawatts of atomic energy capacity by 2047.

Focus on clean energy and long-term targets

Speaking in the House, Singh said India’s growing role on the global stage requires it to follow international benchmarks, particularly in the transition towards cleaner energy sources. He noted that nuclear power would play a crucial role in meeting future energy demands while reducing dependence on conventional fuels.

The SHANTI Bill aims to bring private participation into the civil nuclear space, which has so far remained largely under government control. The government has maintained that such participation is necessary to scale up capacity and meet the 2047 nuclear energy target.

Opposition flags liability concerns

Opposition parties opposed the bill, arguing that it weakens provisions of the Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Act, 2010. They claimed that the proposed framework shifts responsibility in the event of a nuclear incident away from suppliers of nuclear equipment, raising concerns over accountability.

Despite these objections, the bill was passed, marking a significant policy shift in India’s nuclear energy sector.