Lucknow, June 3: The Uttar Pradesh government is taking decisive action to combat air pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR). The goal is to reduce pollution levels by 30 to 35 percent during 2026. To achieve this, the state will intensify its campaign against old and polluting vehicles. Starting October 1, all petrol pumps in the NCR will implement a ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ policy, which means vehicles without a Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will not be able to refuel.
A high-level review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary S.P. Goyal was held on Wednesday to assess the action plans of various departments related to air quality improvement and pollution control in the NCR. He directed all departments to ensure coordinated and result-oriented actions.
The Chief Secretary emphasized a special focus on major pollution sources such as vehicle emissions, industrial discharges, road dust, construction and demolition waste, green cover expansion, and stubble management. A comprehensive public awareness campaign will also be launched to increase citizen participation.
During the meeting, it was reported that under the ‘Naya Safar’ scheme, 2.619 million end-of-life (EOL) vehicles have been identified across four districts in the NCR. Between January and April 2026, 37,156 old vehicles were scrapped, and 460 vehicles were seized. For the upcoming ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ policy, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras will be installed at 1,041 petrol pumps in the NCR.
To promote clean public transport, a target has been set to operate a total of 975 electric buses in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, and Meerut. Currently, 100 e-buses are in operation in these cities. To strengthen air quality monitoring, 43 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) are being established in the NCR-Uttar Pradesh region. Of these, 25 stations are already operational, while the remaining 18 will be set up by October 2026.
Under industrial pollution control, 725 polluting industries have been identified. Of these, 613 units have installed an Online Continuous Emission Monitoring System (OCEMS) and connected it to the Central Pollution Control Board’s server. Additionally, 665 industries have been identified for the installation of Air Pollution Control Devices (APCD), with phased installation currently underway. Plans are also in progress to redevelop 1,792 kilometers of roads in Ghaziabad, Noida, Greater Noida, and Meerut to control road dust.
The estimated cost for this project is approximately ₹3,666 crores. So far, 143.8 kilometers of road redevelopment work has been completed. Furthermore, the need for 108 road sweeping machines has been assessed to enhance mechanical road cleaning, with the procurement process for 50 machines already underway.
The meeting also reviewed various projects, including construction and demolition waste management, solid waste disposal, tree plantation, stubble management, CBG plant establishment, EV charging stations, battery swapping stations, and metro and RRTS expansion. Officials reported that an integrated digital monitoring system is being developed to monitor pollution control measures through various portals, mobile apps, GPS tracking, and dashboards.
The Chief Secretary instructed all departments to meet their set targets in a timely manner and maintain the quality of work through regular reviews. Ensuring clean air and improved quality of life in the NCR is among the government’s top priorities.
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