In a major crackdown on vehicles and industries violating anti-pollution norms, authorities in Delhi have issued a staggering 20,808 challans for Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) irregularities since the imposition of the stringent Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-4. Simultaneously, over 612 industries in the capital are facing closure for flouting environmental regulations, the government announced on Monday, December 23, 2025.
Widespread Action Against Vehicles and Industries
The enforcement drive has been comprehensive, targeting multiple sources of pollution. Beyond the PUCC violations, officials issued 3,771 challans to Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) for not complying with BS-6 emission standards and another 2,360 to end-of-life vehicles that are legally prohibited from plying on roads.
On the industrial front, the 612 units facing action are spread across various zones of the city. According to the official statement, 251 are located in designated industrial zones, 181 in redevelopment zones, and 180 in non-conforming areas. This decisive move underscores the government's intent to curb pollution from both mobile and stationary sources.
Gurgaon Joins the Crackdown with Border Checks
Mirroring Delhi's efforts, the Gurgaon Traffic Police launched a parallel enforcement campaign. Between December 14 and 21, they issued 1,081 challans for violations of GRAP Stage-IV norms. The breakdown reveals 431 challans for PUC certificate irregularities, 91 to BS-III petrol vehicles, and 559 to BS-IV diesel vehicles—all categories banned from operating in the region during the severe air quality phase.
The operation was conducted on the directions of Police Commissioner Vikas Arora and supervised by Deputy Commissioner of Police (Traffic) Dr. Rajesh Mohan. It involved coordination between the Delhi and Gurgaon traffic police, regional transport offices of both cities, and the pollution control boards of Haryana and Delhi.
"Joint teams conducted intensive checks at key entry points like the Delhi-Sirhaul Border, Aya Nagar Border, and Dundahada Border, among other designated locations," a traffic police spokesperson stated. The spokesperson confirmed that most challans were issued at these entry points and that the enforcement actions, in collaboration with other departments, would continue until further orders.
Border Vigilance and Public Appeal
Delhi's borders have seen heightened vigilance. During the enforcement period, 28,519 trucks were inspected, with 2,912 being turned back and prevented from entering the capital. Police personnel from both Delhi and Gurgaon have been manning border areas since the previous Thursday.
The authorities have made a strong appeal to the public, urging them to refrain from entering Delhi-NCR with BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles and to cooperate in the collective fight against toxic air. While fines for an obsolete PUC certificate and using prohibited BS-III petrol or BS-IV diesel vehicles are Rs 10,000 and Rs 20,000 respectively, the final penalty is determined by traffic courts.
The crackdown shows no signs of abating. On Sunday, December 22 alone, Delhi witnessed 2,254 PUCC challans, with West Delhi recording the highest number at 1,158. Additionally, 261 LMVs were penalized for BS-VI norm violations, and 1,623 end-of-life vehicles were challaned on the same day. In a positive note, the government also reported that over one lakh new PUCC certificates were issued in the past three days, indicating public response to the enforcement.
