BS-VI fuel makes debut in Delhi in fight against pollution

In the wake of escalating air pollution and dipping air quality, Delhi has switched to Bharat Stage-VI (BS-VI) fuel. According to oil minister Dharmendra Pradhan's directive, state-run fuel retailers were supposed to supply BS-VI fuel in the capital city from April 1, 2018. 

The move makes Delhi the first city in the country to run on BS-VI fuels. The Centre had decided to roll-out BS-VI fuels across the country by 2020.  

BS-VI fuels are believed to perform better than CNG when it comes to emissions. However, some say that introducing the fuel to vehicles not compatible will not yield benefits as desired. 

According to reports, the decision to go ahead with BS-VI fuels before the set deadline came in the wake of worsening air quality in the capital city. 

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court today asked the Centre to see if BS-VI fuel can be introduced in thirteen metro cities by April 2019.

The next-generation fuel is equivalent to Euro-VI and will reduce sulphur emissions by 80 per cent, compared to the existing BS-IV fuel standards, according to reports. But the two-stage leapfrog to implement the world's toughest vehicle emission standards is also likely to spike prices of vehicles.

''Happy to share that government has decided to prepone the introduction of BS-VI grade Fuel in NCT of Delhi with effect from 1st April 2018 in place of 1st April 2020 as a sincere effort to curb the vehicular pollution in Delhi and adjoining areas,'' read Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's tweet that was posted last year in November.