Delhi’s truck ban unlikely to affect essential supplies

The Delhi government’s decision to ban the entry of trucks and other heavy vehicles from entering the city between October 2022 and February 2023 may not have an impact on the prices of vegetables and other essentials if they are kept out of the ban. This move is being undertaken to reduce air pollution during the winter months.

Traders said whenever such a ban is imposed, supply of essential items such as vegetables, fruits and milk is usually kept outside the purview so that there is no shortage. It may be the case this year also.

“However, the exact details will be known close to the ban,” a senior official from a transport fleet said.

SP Singh, senior fellow and coordinator of Indian Foundation and Transport Research and Training, said Cng-fitted trucks have been kept out of the ban and it only applies to diesel trucks.

“In a day, around 50,000 diesel trucks, on an average, enter the city whose movement could get impacted due to the ban,” Singh said.

He said the overall impact could be less, if essential supplies are exempted from the ban.

The Delhi government — in its order — said no trucks would be allowed to enter the city from October 1 to February 28 next year. Delhi’s air quality had touched dangerous levels during the winter months in recent times and the levels of pollutant particulate matter 2.5 or PM2.5 remains consistently above the threshold during winter. This may be due to industrial discharge, automotive emissions, crackers burnt during Diwali and crop-residue burning in Haryana and Punjab.

Meanwhile, the Confederation of All India Traders has strongly opposed the decision. It said this decision will adversely affect business in Delhi, particularly at a time when these five months are during the festival and wedding seasons.

According to CAIT, businesses may be adversely affected in Delhi as these 5 months see the festival and wedding season