Delhi plans winter pollution curbs: WFH, vehicle rules, construction halt

Delhi plans to require government and private offices to have 50% of their staff work from home from November 1 under a winter air-pollution plan targeting vehicles, construction dust and industrial emissions.

Vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards will not be allowed to enter the capital during the November 1-January 31 period. Parking charges at authorised sites will double, except at DMRC-managed facilities. MCD offices will operate from 8.30am to 5pm, while Delhi government offices will operate from 10am to 6.30pm.

Construction and demolition activity will stop entirely from December 10 to January 20. Across the full three-month curbs, dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction will be prohibited.

The No PUCC, No Fuel campaign will cover 500 fuel stations with authorised number-plate recognition. Delhi also plans weekly inspections at pollution hotspots, daily evening AQI bulletins and a citizen portal for pollution reports and suggestions.

Officials said enforcement will include 334 teams, 60 continuous air-quality monitoring stations and an AI-enabled industrial command-and-control centre.