Over 30 experts and practitioners came together for the 7th EPIC India Dialogue, hosted by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC India) in partnership with the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) India, on 13th February 2026, to explore a simple but urgent question: can transport policy meaningfully improve the air we breathe in Delhi NCR?
Delhi’s air pollution challenge is complex, but transport emissions are a major part of the problem. This Dialogue focused on what really happens on the road, not just what vehicles are designed to emit in laboratory tests. The conversation looked at how much transport contributes to Delhi’s air pollution, the gap between laboratory certification and real world vehicle performance, whether current monitoring and enforcement systems are strong enough, and what practical policy steps could strengthen accountability.
The session featured Amit Bhatt, Managing Director India at ICCT India, and Dr. Kaushik Deb, Executive Director at EPIC India, in conversation moderated by Shravan Engineer, Project Manager at EPIC India.
Several important insights emerged from the discussion. Speakers emphasised that exposure to pollution is often hyperlocal, with air at busy intersections far worse than citywide averages suggest, making transport emissions an immediate public health concern. This underscored the need for measurement systems that reflect real-world conditions. Tools such as remote sensing can help detect actual on-road emissions and close the gap between standards and performance, shifting the focus from paper compliance to lived outcomes.
Among the key takeaways from the discussions was the clear need to strengthen enforcement mechanisms, particularly the PUCC regime. Both speakers emphasized that improved compliance alone could yield meaningful public health gains. At the same time, there was broad agreement that political will remains central to sustained progress. Long-term improvements depend not just on regulatory design, but on consistent executive leadership and policy clarity. Dr. Deb stressed, “Real change requires better measurement tools like remote sensing, but above all, political will. Policy inertia is a major roadblock, and our PUCC regime needs stronger enforcement. When done right, it could add up to six years to life expectancy.”
The conversations also underscored the importance of clear and stable standards. Strong fuel efficiency and emissions norms can drive innovation while giving the industry the certainty it needs to plan and invest. However, with vehicle ownership rising rapidly, the transition must move faster. While subsidies have played an important role in supporting early EV adoption, participants noted that lasting transformation will likely require stronger regulatory signals and well-designed phased mandates to keep momentum on track.
Mr. Bhatt stressed, “ The biggest barrier to electric vehicles today is cost. Subsidies helped initially, but to truly bring prices down, we need stronger demand, and regulation has to create that demand, whether through fleet mandates or phasing down internal combustion engines. Given the public health emergency, this shift can’t rely only on demand-side incentives; it needs clear regulatory signals.”
One key takeaway was clear. Real-world driving conditions in Delhi are very different from controlled testing environments. Congestion, idling, and frequent stop-and-go traffic can significantly affect vehicle emissions. When on-road emissions do not match laboratory results, regulatory intent does not translate into cleaner air. This makes stronger monitoring and enforcement critical.
The Dialogue reinforced a powerful truth. Transport policy is ultimately public health policy. Moving from paper compliance to real on-road accountability is essential if policies are to translate into cleaner air for millions.
The discussion was followed by an engaging Q&A session where several audience members actively engaged with the speakers, raising important questions about how transport emissions and vehicle growth should be integrated into broader urban planning dialogues. Participants emphasised that the health impacts of pollution must be treated with urgency and addressed through immediate and coordinated action. There was also concern that smaller cities are increasingly facing the burden of heavy on-road emissions without adequate policy attention, suggesting that the transport emissions challenge extends beyond Delhi and requires a more comprehensive national response.
A shared commitment to focus on evidence-based solutions and practical next steps that can reduce transport emissions, improve air quality, and make Delhi a healthier and more liveable city, brought a close to the Dialogue.
The EPIC India Dialogue is a flagship platform that brings together experts and practitioners to discuss India’s leading challenges at the intersection of energy, environment, and climate. In previous editions, the series has explored energy transition and net zero pathways, clean air and pollution governance, climate communication and narrative building, urban climate risks and public health, and methane mitigation and climate equity.