New Delhi, April 20 -- The Delhi Legislative Assembly has intensified its focus on vehicular air pollution, forwarding the Third Report of the Committee on Public Accounts (PAC) based on the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) performance audit to concerned authorities, while directing submission of an Action Taken Report (ATR) by January 31, 2027.
The report, which evaluates "Prevention and Mitigation of Vehicular Air Pollution in Delhi" for the year ending March 31, 2021, has been formally communicated to the Transport Minister and the Secretary-cum-Commissioner of the Transport Department for necessary action. The ATR is expected to detail the implementation status of the committee's recommendations as of December 31, 2026.
Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta underscored the need for coordinated and time-bound action, stating that audit findings must translate into tangible improvements on the ground. He emphasized that Delhi's response to air pollution must move beyond incremental steps to address structural gaps.
The PAC report highlights several systemic issues, including weaknesses in regulatory frameworks, enforcement mechanisms, and institutional coordination. It points to gaps in air quality monitoring infrastructure, incomplete tracking of pollutants, and lack of reliable emission data, which hinder evidence-based policymaking.
The Speaker also flagged challenges in public transport, noting shortages of buses, limited route coverage, and inadequate last-mile connectivity. Delays in route rationalisation and slow adoption of alternative transport systems have contributed to increased reliance on private vehicles, worsening congestion and
pollution levels.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.