Resource detail

New Delhi has witnessed increasing levels of air pollution, largely attributed to an unprecedented growth in the number of private vehicles such as cars and taxies, despite its extensive network of public transport such as the Delhi Metro and DTC buses catering to a population exceeding 167.5 lakh ^[1]. It is estimated that the Delhi NCR region has 362 cars per 1000 people ^[2]. The total number of vehicles registered in Delhi in 2011 is equal to the combined registrations done in Mumbai, Hyderabad and Chennai. ^[3]

 

Table 1: Number of Motor Vehicles in Delhi

Type of vehicle	1990-91	2011-12	CAGR
Car and Jeeps	398479	2343113	9.26
2 wheelers	1220640	4644146	6.91
Auto Rickshaws	63005	88197	1.70
Taxies	10157	69780	10.12
Buses	18858	64033	6.30
Goods Vehicles	101828	228886	4.13
Total	1812967	7438155	7.31

Source: Transport Department, Ministry of Urban Development, GoI; CAGR calculated using the formula: {100*(final value/initial value)^(1/ number of years)-100} ^[4]

 

The issue of alarmingly high levels of air pollution came to the forefront following a PIL by environment lawyer Mr. M.C. Mehta to the Supreme Court of India in 1985. As the table below shows, the air pollution levels in the pre-CNG and pre-metro years were quite high as compared to the annual ambient air quality standard set up the Environment Protection Act, 1986.

 

Table 2: Ambient Air Quality of Delhi (measured in ?g/m³)

 

 

Source: Economic Survey of Delhi 2005-06, 2012-13^[5]

 

Table 3: National Ambient Air Quality Standard, Environment Protection Act of India, 1986 (measured in ?g/m³)

 

 

Source: Economic Survey ofDelhi 2008-09^[6]

 

The Initiative

The Supreme Court of India mandated the conversion of Delhi’s bus fleet and later auto rickshaw’s (powered by diesel and petrol respectively), to CNG by 31^st March, 2001.Despite highlighting the urgency of the situation, the Delhi Government was unable to adhere to the stipulated deadline and requested for an extension, which was granted by the Supreme Court after levying a penalty of Rs.1000 per diesel bus per day, on the Delhi Government. The inclusion of 3-wheelers under this mandate led to initial resistance from the people due to high conversion costs. Finally, in 2003, Delhi’s public vehicular transport was declared fully converted to CNG. ^[7]

 

Alongside CNG efforts, the Delhi government also undertook the ambitious Delhi Metro project. To this end, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) was established jointly by the Central Government of India and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi in 1995, under the India Companies Act, 1956. This project which began in 1998, with a majority of funds received as “soft loans” from the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), aims to cover Delhi with a metro network of 413 kilometers spanning the breadth of Delhi by 2021, in four phases. ^[8]

 

An interesting point to note here is that while a target of 10 years was stipulated to complete Phase I of the project, it was completed a full 2 years and 9 months ahead of schedule, within the estimated cost of EUR 1.59 billion. Many factors contributed to this, the most important being the Metro chief Mr. E Sreedharan’s determination to ensure full transparency in dealings, the use of latest available technology, but primarily the autonomy given to the DMRC in conducting operations with minimal intervention from the bureaucracy.

 

The DMRC followed a lean management system, employing only 45 people per kilometer of track in accordance with international standards, which was further reduced to 38 employees per kilometer of track by 2008 despite expansion of the line.^[9] The enactment of Delhi Metro Railway (Operation and Management) Act, 2002, ensures that the Delhi Metro’s functioning is not impeded by local municipal laws, and lower courts do not have the authority to issue stay orders on their functioning.

 

Outcome and Benefits

In 2003, the Delhi government was awarded the U.S. Department of Energy’s Clean Cities International Partner of the Year Award, for its “bold efforts to curb pollution, and support alternate fuel initiatives” in the city. ^[10]

 

With an estimated daily ridership of over 0.6 million commuters, and an enviable safety record, the Delhi Metro is a success in terms of Mass Rapid Transport Systems in India. In addition to being the fastest expanding metro network in the world, the DMRC has received the ISO 14001 certification, which deals with standards for minimizing the adverse effects of operational processes on the environment. It is the only rail network in the world to also receive the OHSAS 18001 certification for its environment, occupational health and safety management system. ^[11] The United Nations has awarded 6.3 lakh Carbon Credits to the DMRC, making it the first corporation in the world to conclusively prove that it’s functioning has led to a reduction of GHG emissions. ^[12]

 

However, a recently published study by the Centre for Development Economics, Delhi School of Economics ^[13], states that since the introduction of the Delhi Metro and use of CNG following the Supreme Court directive, reduction in pollution from vehicular emissions was observed for a brief period of two years, from 2004-2006.

 

Another study by the University of British Columbia has pointed out that 3 wheelers might not have contributed to the reduction in pollution. The study states, “as much as one third of CNG is not properly burned in two-stroke engines, producing high emissions of methane, a major greenhouse gas that contributes to climate change. CNG use also produced substantial emissions of high particulate matter from unburned lubricating oil, which can appear as blue smoke.” ^[14] Thus, a reduction in pollution cannot simply be achieved by switching to a cleaner fuel the technology must be compatible as well.

 

As can be seen from Table 1, taxies have recorded the highest growth rate at over 10% for the period. Besides personalized vehicular mode of transport, 2 wheelers and cars have recorded CAGR of approximately 7% and 9% respectively.

 

More importantly it must be noted that while in the initial years there was a dip in air pollution, the Delhi Government has been hard pressed to meet ambient air quality standards for PM₁₀ as specified by the MOEF.

 

 

 

Imminent Concerns and Prospects

Following the success of the Delhi Metro, state governments across India are planning to establish Mass Rapid Transit Systems in their main cities. This will not only lead to an overall reduction in vehicular traffic, but also reduce emissions of pollutants such as oxides of nitrogen and sulphur, ozone and particulate matter. However before this dream can be realized, there are many challenges to contend with. Appropriate mechanisms for land acquisition and rehabilitation of people so displaced, sufficiency in terms of electricity availability, capital to back the project, sourcing the latest technology at a feasible cost, these are but small examples of the complications awaiting a project of this magnitude.

 

While considering the reduction of emissions from the metro, the source of the electricity used in its operation must be acknowledged. In India, 75% of electricity is generated from thermal power plants. These plants consume coal in huge quantities, and it is stated that coal so used in India releases excessive quantities of fly ash on burning. As a consequence, emissions per passenger per kilometer have been calculated at 25g for buses and 21g for the DM. ^[11]

 

In an effort to introduce more stringent guidelines for ambient air quality, the MOEF has revised the norms for level of pollutant in the air for cities in 2009.

Table 4: Revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards, Environment (Protection) Seventh Amendment Rules, 2009 (measured in g/m³)

 

 

Source: Ministry of Environment and Forests Notification,

Gazette of India, 16^th November, 2009; *Annual Weighted Average, ** * Hourly Weighted Average

 

The permissible levels of SO₂, NO₂ and PM₁₀ are no longer different for industrial and residential areas. More importantly the measurement of Particulate Matter size less than 2.5?g (PM_2.5) and Ozone (O₃) has been made mandatory for all NAAQS stations in the country.

 

In the case of Delhi, while the effort in reducing pollution has been acknowledged, it must also be recognized that conversion to CNG and MRTS are not solutions to a city’s pollution woes. It is imperative that the various government organizations ensure that any reductions in emissions achieved are not squandered away. Creating awareness about the possible methods of pollution reduction, encouraging the use of public transport using technology that is proven to reduce pollution, must be implemented to ensure public health and safety, and minimizing adverse environmental impact.

 

References

^[1] Census of India, 2011

 

^[2] Indian Express http://www.indianexpress.com/news/high-vehicle-density-in-city-causing-pollution-parking-woes-says-cse-director/1120362/

 

^[3] Times of India http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-11-26/india/35366083_1_vehicles-chennai-metro-bangalore

 

^[4] Delhi Planning http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/Ecosur2003-04/ch12tablefinal2.pdf

 

^[5] Economic Survey of Delhi 2005-06, 2012-13 http://delhi.gov.in/DoIT/DoIT_Planning/ES2012-13/EN/ES_chapter8.pdf

 

^[6] Economic Survey of Delhi 2008-09 http://delhi.gov.in/wps/wcm/connect/DoIT_Planning/planning/economic+survey+of+dehli/content+2008-09/environmental+concerns

 

^[7] The Delhi Pollution Case: Can the Supreme Court manage the Environment? Columbia Journal of Environmental Law, Spring 2003 http://www.environmental-expert.com/Files/6620/articles/9720/TheDelhiPollutionCase.pdf

 

^[8]Delhi Metro Rail Corporation http://www.delhimetrorail.com

 

^[9] UNEP Case Study DMRC, India Pg. 23http://www.unep.org/transport/lowcarbon/StakeHolders_2011_NewDehli/Oct%2020/Session%20V/Metro%20Systems%20in%20India_Case%20Study%20DMRC_Tiwari.pdf

 

^[10] U.S. Department of Energy

 

^[11] Indian Journal of Transport Management, January-March, 2008 issue. Delhi Metro- The changing face of Urban Public Transport in India. http://www.indiaenvironmentportal.org.in/files/Indian%20Jour%20of%20Trans%20Manage.pdf

 

^[12] Delhi Metro Rail Corporation http://www.delhimetrorail.com/press_reldetails.aspx?id=746xECETA6Qlld

 

^[13] “Did the Metro help reduce Air Pollution in Delhi?” Ideas for India http://www.ideasforindia.in/article.aspx?article_id=138

 

Commercially tested: Yes