The "e-detection" system, set to begin before Diwali, will enable transport departments to identify such vehicles and automatically issue e-challans. Officials expect this system to serve as a significant deterrent to polluting vehicles entering Delhi from other states. Physical checks at entry points have been challenging, but this system aims to bridge that enforcement gap.

Using data from FASTags installed on vehicles, the system will capture the vehicle’s photograph and registration details as they cross toll plazas on Delhi’s borders. This information will be matched with the Vahan database—the central repository of vehicle registrations and document validity, such as fitness, permits, and pollution certificates. Violations will trigger automated e-challans and other actions under the Motor Vehicle Act.

Sources revealed that discussions between Delhi’s transport department, the Ministry of Road Transport, and NHAI have been ongoing to expedite the rollout. "The goal is to launch the system before Diwali, a period when air pollution worsens in Delhi," said a source.

Initially, the NHAI will share vehicle data from its toll plazas every few hours for matching with the Vahan database, with real-time data sharing planned in later phases. Cameras will be installed at 52 entry points, including major highways, to capture vehicle details and enforce compliance.

The government also aims for a nationwide rollout to curb violations of transport regulations. Currently, out of 380 million registered vehicles across India, 60 million are deemed unfit. However, there is no clear record of how many are still operational. "Some may have been scrapped informally or abandoned in yards. This new system will help us enforce scrapping and ensure compliance," an official added. (ET)