Source: The post “For a choking capital, going electric is the way out’’ has been created, based on “For a choking capital, going electric is the way out” published in “Indian Express” on 23rd December 2025.
UPSC Syllabus: GS Paper-3- Environment
Context: Delhi experiences a severe air pollution crisis every winter, turning the city into a public health emergency zone. The government response largely relies on short-term measures such as GRAP, traffic restrictions and school closures, which only manage symptoms. Transport has emerged as the single largest controllable source of air pollution in Delhi, making electrification of mobility a long-term structural necessity.
Challenges
- Transport-related emissions contribute nearly 25–40 per cent of Delhi’s PM2.5 due to tailpipe emissions, congestion, idling and ageing vehicles.
- Policy uncertainty caused by delays in notifying a new EV policy has led to withdrawal of incentives and decline in consumer and investor confidence.
- Delhi has witnessed a slowdown in EV adoption, including zero electric-auto registrations in 2025 and a decline in electric two-wheeler sales.
- The Fleet Aggregator Scheme has not been effectively operationalised, limiting electrification of commercial and shared mobility fleets.
- The city operates only 7,000–8,000 buses for nearly 30 million residents, which is far below global urban transport standards.
- Reduction in bus routes and unreliable service frequency have resulted in falling public transport ridership.
- Charging and swapping infrastructure remains inadequate, unreliable and poorly monitored, discouraging potential EV users.
- Weak enforcement of scrappage policies allows old and highly polluting vehicles to continue operating on city roads.
Four Pillars of a Credible Clean Transport Strategy
- Accelerated Electrification of Vehicles
- Delhi must promote EV adoption across all segments through stable incentives, clear policy signals and predictable funding.
- The city should phase out new sales of non-electric two- and three-wheelers from 2026 to provide certainty to manufacturers, financiers and consumers.
- World-Class Electric Bus System
- A strong and reliable public transport system is essential, as no global city has cleaned its air without one.
- Delhi must commit to deploying at least 20,000 electric buses over the next five years to reduce emissions at scale.
- High-frequency services, route expansion and seamless last-mile connectivity are necessary to restore public confidence in buses.
- Phasing Out Old and Polluting Vehicles
- Delhi must enforce year-round restrictions on non-BS IV and non-BS VI vehicles to reduce emissions from ageing fleets.
- An aggressive scrappage and replacement programme should be implemented with firm deadlines, incentives and strict enforcement.
- Charging and Swapping Infrastructure as a Public Utility
- Electric mobility cannot scale without widespread and reliable charging and swapping infrastructure.
- Delhi must deploy thousands of charging points across residential areas, markets, office districts and transport corridors.
- Charging infrastructure should be treated as a public utility with transparent pricing, real-time uptime monitoring and operator accountability.
Way Forward
- Delhi should establish a permanent clean-transport war room to ensure coordinated, data-driven and accountable decision-making.
- A unified five-year clean transport mission should be launched with measurable targets and enforceable timelines.
- Clean mobility should be recognised as essential public health infrastructure rather than a discretionary environmental initiative.
- Financial support mechanisms such as concessional loans, leasing models and battery swapping should be promoted for small operators and low-income users.
- Public–private partnerships should be leveraged to rapidly scale electric fleets and charging infrastructure.
Conclusion: Delhi’s air pollution crisis cannot be resolved through episodic emergency responses and seasonal restrictions. Electrification of transport, supported by strong public transport systems and robust infrastructure, offers the most credible pathway to clean air. With sustained political will, policy certainty and mission-mode execution, Delhi can restore its leadership in electric mobility and ensure the fundamental right to clean air for its citizens.
Question: Delhi’s air pollution crisis requires a shift from seasonal emergency measures to a structural clean transport strategy. Discuss
