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This study investigates the perspectives and preparedness of small and medium businesses towards Low Emission Zone (LEZ) implementation in Delhi's Connaught Place, situated within the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) area. Through a mixed-method approach involving structured interviews with 50 business owners across retail, wholesale, and order-based operations, the research examines vehicle dependency patterns, willingness to pay entry fees, and transition challenges to cleaner alternatives. The findings reveal that while over 90% of businesses express willingness to transition to cleaner vehicles when faced with strict restrictions, significant barriers persist including high upfront costs and inadequate charging infrastructure. The study demonstrates distinct operational patterns across business types, with wholesale operations showing greater readiness to absorb LEZ entry fees (100% willing) compared to retail establishments (40% willing), while 80% of all respondents anticipate increased operational expenses. Most businesses prefer keeping entry fees below ₹100, with 63% citing environmental benefits as a primary motivation for transition. The research highlights the critical need for differentiated policy approaches that consider temporal operational preferences, with retailers favouring daytime restrictions while wholesalers prefer nighttime limitations. The study concludes that successful LEZ implementation requires comprehensive financial incentive frameworks, enhanced charging infrastructure, and inclusive policy design that balances environmental objectives with business sustainability for Delhi's commercial hubs.
Keywords: Low Emission Zone (LEZ), Commercial Hubs, Vehicular Emissions, Delhi Air Pollution, Commercial Vehicle Transition.
