Pune studies vehicle restrictions to curb congestion and pollution
The Pune district administration is evaluating potential measures aimed at reducing the number of vehicles on city roads in an effort to address congestion and air pollution. District Collector Jitendra Dudi clarified that no final decision has been taken so far, amid reports suggesting a blanket ban on vehicles older than 15 years.
Speaking on the matter, Dudi stated that multiple options were discussed during a recent road safety meeting involving various government departments. One of the proposals considered was restricting vehicles older than 15 years from operating within city limits. However, he noted that existing court rulings may limit the implementation of an age-based ban.
According to Dudi, another option under discussion involves targeting vehicles that do not meet Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission standards. Since BS-VI norms represent the latest and most stringent emission regulations in India, phasing out older, more polluting vehicles could potentially reduce emissions and ease traffic pressure.
He emphasised that both proposals remain at the discussion stage. Authorities are currently assessing their feasibility and legal validity before any formal proposal is sent to the state government for approval. A decision is expected within the next month.
Legal backdrop and emission norms
Age-based vehicle restrictions have previously faced legal scrutiny. In 2015, the National Green Tribunal directed that diesel vehicles older than 10 years and petrol vehicles older than 15 years should not operate in the Delhi-NCR region. However, in August 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that no coercive action should be taken against owners of such vehicles. The debate has since centred on whether restrictions should be based purely on vehicle age or actual emission levels.
Bharat Stage (BS) emission standards are implemented by the Government of India to regulate pollutants from motor vehicles. BS-IV norms came into force nationwide in 2017. Subsequently, India skipped the intermediate BS-V stage and transitioned directly to BS-VI norms in 2020. BS-VI standards significantly reduce permissible sulphur and nitrogen oxide emissions compared to BS-IV.
As Pune continues to grapple with rising vehicle density and deteriorating air quality, the administration’s proposed measures are likely to generate wider discussion around balancing environmental goals with legal and practical considerations.
