Tehran’s New Fight Against Smog: Polluting Vehicles Beware

Tehran Municipality’s long overdue plan for curbing air pollution took off at the weekend. The so-called Air Pollution Reduction (APR) plan bans dilapidated vehicles from the sprawling capital to help improve air quality in the city that is home to 12 million people and four million motor vehicles. 
The APR plan established by the TM was initially announced in summer stating that clunkers and dilapidated vehicles will be banished and those who violate the rules will be fined 500,000 rials ($4). The scheme was to be implemented on Oct. 24. However, the Traffic Police demanded delays. With mounting pressure from environmentalists, the police relented and the scheme was launched on Nov. 24.
Head of Tehran Vehicle Technical Inspection Bureau Navvab Hosseini says, “The Air Pollution Reduction plan was launched at the weekend. As of Nov. 24, those violating the rules and regulations will be fined 500,000 rials ($4)."