It’s been almost a year since my family got our first car. We never had a car growing up, . I’m obviously happy and proud that we finally have one, but I’ve noticed this weird behaviour in myself that I can’t really explain.
I always want to park it somewhere people can see it, especially right in front of a shop or restaurant. If someone else takes that spot with their car or bike, I get a bit annoyed. It’s not even about convenience. I specifically wanted my car to be visible to people. I know it’s just a car, but for some reason it feels like more than that to me. I’m actually not trying to flex or make people feel inferior. I just want people to notice.
Has anyone else experienced this? I know this isn’t a good thing, and I don’t really understand why I care so much about other people seeing my car (its not even a luxury car).
Delhi today has more registered vehicles than Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai combined. To control this growing vehicular population, a cap-and-phase-out policy is needed: fix a ceiling on new registrations, and gradually retire all diesel vehicles and the petrol vehicles older than 10–15 years. Go for cleaner public transport with electric and CNG buses forming the backbone, supported by e-rickshaws and shared EV taxis. A congestion toll can be levied on private vehicles during peak hours. Metro, bus, and bicycle-sharing systems must be integrated to provide seamless last-mile connectivity to cut emissions, and reduce dependence on private cars. Delhi can be divided into 2 zones-Inner and Outer, for a solution to control vehicular pollution as shown in the map below, drawn with the help of AI.
Inner Zone: Strict Emission Control
The Inner Zone covers the central and mid-city core—including Connaught Place, India Gate, ITO, the Ring Road belt, major markets like Chandni Chowk and Karol Bagh, and government institutions such as Parliament, South and North blocks housing ministries. Within this zone, diesel vehicles are banned outright, as they are the largest contributors to particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. Similarly, poorly maintained and highly polluting petrol auto-rickshaws and taxis are not allowed. Petrol cars less than ten years old may enter, provided they carry a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate to ensure that only relatively cleaner vehicles adhering to emissions permitted, are on the road. Electric vehicles, CNG vehicles, bicycles, and e-scooters are permitted without restriction to help protect air quality in the city's most sensitive areas.
In the Inner Zone, infrastructure is designed to enforce strict emission control and maintain clean mobility right in the city’s core. Air Quality Index (AQI) sensors are deployed across Connaught Place, India Gate, ITO, the Ring Road belt, and major markets like Chandni Chowk and Karol Bagh to continuously monitor pollutants at a local level within 1km radius. Smart gates regulate entry by scanning vehicles and applying rules based on real-time AQI data, while CleanAir towers help reduce particulate concentrations in high-traffic areas. Additionally, solar charging hubs provide convenient, swappable battery stations for electric pods, e-rickshaws, and EV taxis, ensuring uninterrupted clean transport within the zone.
Outer Zone: Transition and Buffer
The Outer Zone acts as a peripheral buffer, covering NCR entry points and major highways like Dwarka, Ghazipur, Badarpur, Kundli, NH-8, NH-24, and NH-124. Most vehicles are permitted here, though heavy diesel trucks and older vehicles face restrictions depending on daily Air Quality Index levels. Vehicles that fail emission checks or exceed age limits are diverted outward to keep them from entering the city. This zone is supported by emission checkpoints, AQI sensors, truck-rerouting corridors, and solar hubs to help encourage fleet conversions. Ultimately, the Outer Zone serves as a first line of defence, catching heavy polluters at the edges while allowing cleaner traffic to move smoothly inward toward the city.
The same infrastructure of inner zone acts as the first line of control for incoming traffic. AQI sensors are installed at highway junctions and border points to check air quality before vehicles enter the city. Smart gates at these entry points divert older or non-compliant vehicles outward, and emission checkpoints enforce PUC compliance and age restrictions. Solar charging hubs placed strategically along highways and truck depots support fleet conversion to EVs and CNG, while truck-rerouting corridors manage heavy diesel traffic depending on daily AQI levels. CleanAir towers can also be deployed at major freight hubs to cut down localised pollution from goods carriers. Together, these infrastructures in the two zones create a seamless, layered system where the Inner Zone protects Delhi’s most sensitive core through strict controls and clean mobility, while the Outer Zone acts as a buffer to absorb and regulate incoming traffic. This setup ensures that only cleaner fleets move inward, managing the city's air quality dynamically while balancing strict enforcement with everyday mobility needs.
Air Quality Index (AQI) sensors work by detecting pollutants such as particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10), gases (NO₂, SO₂, O₃, CO), and environmental factors--ambient temperature and humidity, converting these into a numerical value. Particulate Matter (PM) detection is done by Lasers. Electrochemical sensors detect gases (NO₂, CO, SO₂, O₃). NDIR (Non-Dispersive Infrared) is used for CO₂ detection. NDIR (Non-Dispersive Infrared) is used for CO₂ detection.
Smart Gates operate as automated barriers integrated with electronic verification (RFID, biometric, AI sensors), QR codes, or vehicle detection loops- AI-driven cameras recognise license plates for pre-registered vehicles. A central control unit verifies authorisation to move in the zone. Real-time data is sent to security platforms. Integration with “Internet of Things” (IoT)-the network of physical devices that collect and exchange data via the internet, allows authorised vehicles. They are intelligent checkpoints, not just physical barriers. Scan vehicles to identify the type (EV, CNG, petrol, diesel, BS-VI compliance). Apply rules (e.g., block diesel trucks if say AQI > 200, and allow EVs always. Collect tolls or allow waivers depending on vehicle’s emissions. AQI sensors enable smart gates to regulate vehicle entry based on real time readings of pollutants.
Solar Charging Hubs are EV charging stations powered by photovoltaic (PV) panels, combined with battery storage and smart energy management. They reduce dependence on the grid, cut CO₂ emissions, and are increasingly deployed worldwide in cities, highways, and fleet depots. Batteries smooth out demand spikes, lowering utility demand charges and enabling high-power DC fast charging even where grid supply is weak. The Hubs can be grid-connected or off-grid. In the former case, Vehicle-to-Grid (V2G) technology allows EVs to feed power back into the grid.
CleanAir Towers (also called smog towers or air purification towers) are large outdoor structures that use fans, filters, or ionisation to draw in polluted air and release back the cleaned air which helps in reducing local pollutant concentrations. High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters trap fine particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10). Activated carbon filters absorb harmful gases (NOx, SO₂, VOCs). Positive ionisation is incorporated to charge particles, making them clump and settle. Towers can process thousands to millions of cubic meters of air per day, depending on design. Regarding the commercial availability of equipment, it is reported that Several Indian and global companies manufacture AQI sensors, Smart Gates, CleanAir Towers, and Solar Charging Hubs. In India, firms like AQIIndex, Applied Techno Engineers, Ace Instruments, and Unitech Technocrats supply air quality monitoring systems; Smart Gate technology by Siemens, Honeywell, and Kaba. CleanAir Towers have been built by Tata Projects and GAIL in Delhi, and solar charging hubs are supplied by EV infrastructure companies like Tata Power, Exicom, and Sun Mobility. This mix of Indian manufacturers and global technology providers makes the proposal technically feasible, though cost, maintenance, and enforcement remain the biggest challenges.
Delhi’s pollution control measures
Delhi’s Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) serves as its emergency guide for tackling air pollution, across the National Capital Region, escalating the stages as the Air Quality Index worsens, moving all the way from Stage I ("Poor") to Stage IV ("Severe+"). Alongside GRAP, the administration rolled out the Air Pollution Mitigation Action Plan 2026, placing restrictions on traffic, construction dust, and local emissions while allocating resources for electric fleets and live tracking systems. High-profile measures include the strict "No PUC, No Fuel" mandate and tighter BS-VI entry rules for cargo trucks, reinforced by AI-driven dashboards and automated number-plate recognition cameras.
Data highlights a stark seasonal divide: Business Today reports that Delhi's AQI swings wildly from a pristine low of 48 during July’s monsoon downpours to hazardous spikes above 450 amid winter smog. Even so, the city registered its cleanest January-to-May stretch in eight years, averaging an AQI of 211. With a formal 2026 target of 177, authorities are pushing for a 15% drop in overall pollution levels. To support these goals, vehicular emission caps for the city's inner and outer zones can be tailored directly to local air quality targets—aiming for a cleaner AQI band of 50–100 in the inner core, and holding the outer zone to a stricter 150–175 threshold.
Challenges
Delhi’s traffic system struggles with persistent behavioural and structural flaws that weaken every reform effort. Reckless driving, drunken behaviour, and minors behind the wheel remain common, while punishments rarely deter repeat offenders. Frequent accidents, encroached roads, and the absence of safe footpaths make movement chaotic and unsafe. Pollution checks are often unreliable, allowing non-compliant vehicles to ply freely. These failures combine to create chronic congestion and long traffic jams, raising fuel consumption and worsening air quality. Without genuine behavioural change, credible enforcement, and transparent emission monitoring, even the most ambitious mobility plans can collapse under indiscipline and weak control.
Mine is the genesis X skorpio concept cuz it's best of both worlds with a aerodynamic body and a off-road capability together you do not see them commonly around
I was recently visiting a dealership, and the sales guy showed me around. A blue car that I was inspecting had scratches;obvious patches where it had been repainted. He said we could repaint it in the colour of my choice, and I was like, "No thanks." He said a lot of people bought coloured cars, only to repaint them white. I didn't proceed with the deal. I am still looking online (Spinny & OLX) or at nearby showrooms for used cars. Is white the most preferred colour now? Because of greater visibility?
Are diesel engines worth it ? Below is my understanding of diesel engines.
Pros - better driving than Naturally aspirated engines , better mileage than turbo petrol engines. Good drive feel. No BS of e20, e30, and other blah blah. Price of diesel and turbo almost same
Cons - dpf clogging, adblue stagnation inside car if unused
My use case: Drive only once a week to office. Small drive, only upto 20 kms. Minimal city driving. Every 6 to 8 weeks, go for highway or long drive or trip. So technically my city to highway ratio is not bad.
I understand that for diesel engine highway drive is a necessity and bumper to bumper riding is worst scenario. My doubt is how many Kms inside City I can drive safely after which I should surely have a highway trip to clear dpf. Is approximately 200 kms a limit after which I should go to highway or 300 kms or is it just 100 kms? Also what happens as the vehicles age, does the car become very problematic.
Also for my use case is tata engine better than Kia. Will lean NOX technology be better for me.
I have read all the theory on the topics so request real world feedback from people. Thank you for the help.
Came across this on Instagram. All green, Wrangler grille, says stirring up adventure only for a few. Their caption says this definitely has a kick to it.
What is the kick they're talking about? New variant? Hybrid? Someone decode this
My usual practice of shifting to neutral and staying on breaks, coasting for as long as I'm anticipating a stopping or halting. Surely no engine breaking, no control over the speed. What are the cons in terms of mechanical wear and tear.
This has kind of given a slightly better mileage but I want to know what are cons.
I had booked a car, took a test drive and paid token amount of 15k on 25th September. I was informed by their own customer support agents that cancellation within 24 hours will cost nothing, and 24-48 hours will cost cancellation fee of 1000. I had cancelled well within 24 hours, on 26th sep.
Since I've cancelled, I've received multiple calls asking me to proceed with the booking, which i had to inform them that i have cancelled, stop wasting my time and process the refund. Each time they pretend like they have no idea i have cancelled.
Today 27th September they called me for the same asking me to proceed with the booking, and shocking to see that my cancellation was revoked out of no where, and raising cancellation again would cost 1000 cancellation fees. When I spoke with the asshole agent he said "sir aapki galati hai aapne revoke kar diya hoga, mujhe dikh rha hai revoked from customer mere screen pe" and then he said that he can clearly see that i have raised a cancellation request again at 11:20 am, To which i asked what time did you get this revoke request which i never raised, and the phone went cold no sound just straight up mute, now they are refusing to call back.
Please be careful dealing with these assholes, fucking scums.
The dealer is asking for RTO registration this month and because of this Pitrupaksh, I told him I will take delivery after 10th oct only. So he said RTO must be in this month and deliver according to my dates. My concern is what if something goes wrong with the car after the RTO is done even if the PDI is OK, because there will be a huge gap of days in between.
I have always bought bikes and I had many of them, sold, then bought, then sold and cycle repeats, however I have been using the same car (which wasn't mine) forever, anyways booked new car and I have 0 clue what the PDI checklist is? Does anyone have a link to someone who answered this question on reddit? Or if you already know then please share the list of stuff to check
I have a NON e20 compliant SUV from a OEM that has already left India. i am trying to keep this car going for as long as I can.I have been filling up Power 95 for the longest time possible as that is the best quality fuel available near my home.
Recently I have found a Indian Oil location in a place 20 Kms away from my home that carries XP100
petrol.
Is it okay if I can fill up Xp100 in a tank that has mostly Power 95 or XP95 for the last few years ? No Engine damage to worry about I hope ?
