Delhi plans pilot project to retrofit govt vehicles with advanced catalytic converters

Officials said the move could serve as a model for similar adoption across other Indian cities facing heavy vehicular pollution.

“>

The Delhi government is set to pilot a project to reduce emissions from BS-III and BS-IV vehicles by installing advanced catalytic converter-based retrofitting devices in 30 government vehicles, TNN reports. The initiative will be implemented by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) in collaboration with IIT Delhi or the International Centre for Automotive Technology (ICAT) for testing and validation. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the devices, to be fitted after the exhaust pipe, have shown potential to cut particulate matter and other emissions by over 70 per cent in BS-III and BS-IV vehicles. “This pilot is a trial and a statement of our vision — to deploy permanent, innovative solutions that clean Delhi’s air while keeping essential transport running,” Sirsa noted. The project follows the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) directive to bar entry of non-essential commercial goods vehicles that are not BS-VI compliant into the capital from November 1, except those registered in Delhi.

If proven effective, the government will consider large-scale deployment of the devices in BS-IV or older vehicles, targeting a significant reduction in emissions from the city’s ageing fleet. Officials said the move could serve as a model for similar adoption across other Indian cities facing heavy vehicular pollution.