Delhi’s electric vehicle transition could face a major loophole unless neighboring NCR states adopt similar rules, former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has warned. Speaking at the closing plenary of Urban Adda 2026, Kant called for a coordinated regional approach to electric mobility and air-quality management. The Delhi EV Policy Should Extend Across NCR because vehicles denied registration in the Capital could otherwise be registered in neighboring cities and continue operating in Delhi.
He urged the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to push Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan towards common EV policies, while also bringing Punjab into the wider airshed strategy.
Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant wants Delhi’s EV policy extended across the NCR to prevent polluting ICE vehicles from being registered in neighboring states and entering Delhi. He also called for faster electrification of two-wheelers, three-wheelers, buses, commercial fleets, construction equipment, and agricultural tractors.
Why Delhi’s EV Policy Needs NCR-Wide Adoption
Kant described Delhi’s decision to stop registering new CNG three-wheelers and light goods vehicles from next year, along with new petrol two-wheelers from 2028, as a “historic” move.
According to him, the measures establish a clear timeline for reducing internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles in key urban mobility segments. However, he warned that Delhi-only restrictions could encourage buyers and businesses to register polluting vehicles just outside the Capital.
“If Delhi stops registering ICE three-wheelers, vehicles could instead be sold and registered in places such as Noida or Gurugram,” Kant said.
That is why the Delhi EV Policy Should Extend Across NCR, creating a more consistent regulatory framework across major cities surrounding the Capital.
Kant Calls for a Common EV Strategy
Kant urged CAQM to ensure that Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan adopt Delhi’s EV measures. He argued that air pollution does not stop at state or city boundaries and therefore requires coordinated enforcement.
He also called for Punjab to be included in the broader air-quality strategy because its geographical airshed can influence Delhi’s pollution levels, particularly during periods of severe seasonal pollution.
“Air quality management must follow the airshed and not administrative maps,” Kant said.
India Can Accelerate Electric Mobility
Kant said the economics of electric mobility are becoming increasingly attractive as battery prices decline and total ownership costs fall.
He highlighted India’s mobility structure as a major advantage. The country relies heavily on two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and buses, allowing these segments to potentially transition to electric power at considerable speed.
He called for:
- Thousands of electric buses across urban areas
- Lakhs of electric two- and three-wheelers
- Electric fleets for aggregators and delivery companies
- Faster expansion of EV charging infrastructure
- Electrification roadmaps for construction equipment
- Greater adoption of electric agricultural tractors
CAQM Backs Regional Pollution Action
CAQM chairperson Rajesh Verma highlighted the panel’s cooperation with state governments and stressed that vehicle-emission control requires regional enforcement across entire airsheds.
He pointed to measures including high-density corridor management, cleaner fleet transitions, and continuous real-time pollution monitoring as part of a more integrated approach.
The broader message reinforces why the Delhi EV Policy Should Extend Across NCR rather than remain confined to administrative boundaries.
EVs at the Centre of Delhi-NCR’s Future
The debate highlights a growing challenge for policymakers: EV adoption cannot be treated as an isolated city-level initiative when vehicles routinely cross state borders.
A coordinated NCR framework could reduce opportunities for policy evasion while supporting cleaner public transport, commercial mobility, and private vehicles.
For Delhi and its neighboring cities, Delhi EV Policy should extend across the NCR if the region wants its vehicle-electrification targets to translate into meaningful improvements in air quality.
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