E-Paper
GRAP IV restrictions revised: Can I drive my out-of-state BS4 petrol car in Delhi?
If you own an out-of-state registered BS4 petrol car, the answer depends on whether GRAP Stage 4 is in force in Delhi.
When GRAP Stage 4 was implemented earlier in Delhi, the government announced two additional curbs. The first made a valid PUC certificate mandatory to buy fuel at petrol pumps in Delhi. This applied to all vehicles, including BS6 models. The second barred the entry of out-of-state registered vehicles that do not meet BS6 emission norms from entering the city.
As air quality improved, GRAP Stage 4 was lifted, and the city moved back to Stage 3. However, the two additional measures announced earlier were reviewed again over the weekend.
Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the Delhi government has decided to make these two measures permanent. Until further orders, the “no PUC, no fuel” rule will remain in force across Delhi throughout the year. In addition, the restriction on the entry of out-of-state registered non-BS6 vehicles will now become a permanent part of GRAP Stage 4 whenever it is enforced in the future.
What exactly changes when GRAP Stage 4 is imposed?
What this means in practical terms is that whenever GRAP Stage 4 is implemented again in Delhi, out-of-state registered vehicles that do not meet BS6 norms will not be allowed to enter the city.
Under the existing GRAP framework, the movement of BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles is banned across the Delhi-NCR region during Stage 4. BS4 petrol vehicles, however, were earlier allowed to operate freely in Delhi-NCR, regardless of where they were registered.
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So what’s the final takeaway for BS4 petrol owners?
That position changes going forward. If GRAP Stage 4 is imposed again, only Delhi-registered BS4 petrol vehicles will be allowed to operate within Delhi. Out-of-state BS4 petrol vehicles will still be allowed to move in the NCR, but they will not be permitted to enter Delhi city limits.
So, if you drive an out-of-state BS4 petrol car, you can enter Delhi as long as GRAP Stage 4 is not active. Once Stage 4 comes into effect, entry into Delhi will not be allowed, even though the vehicle remains legal in the rest of the NCR.
(This question was asked by Kavya Sharma from Noida)
