Delhi government has notified comprehensive and permanent guidelines to effectively deal with winter air pollution. Through the notification of the Environment and Forest Department, such rules have been decided which will be applicable from 1 November to 28 February every year. Their objective is to establish effective control on activities like vehicular pollution, dust pollution and open burning of garbage. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that a clear, simple and strict system has been created by integrating various orders in these guidelines so that it is easy for all concerned departments, institutions and common citizens to follow and enforcement can also become more effective.
The Chief Minister said that every year the air quality in Delhi is seriously affected during the winter season. Pollution levels continuously increase between November and February. Keeping this in mind, the government has now implemented such a permanent system, due to which there will be no need to issue separate orders every year. All agencies will be able to take timely action as per pre-determined rules.
In the notification, air quality data of previous years has been studied. During the years 2023-24, 2024-25 and 2025-26, it was found that between November 1 and February 15, the average Air Quality Index (AQI) of Delhi was between 312 to 342. While the maximum AQI reached from 461 to 494. On this basis, special control measures for winter have been made permanent. Besides, the revised GRAP issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the Capital Region and the instructions of the Supreme Court have also been included in these rules.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that for effective control on vehicle pollution, fuel will now be given at all petrol, diesel, CNG and LPG pumps in Delhi throughout the year only to those vehicles which have a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUC), action will be taken against those vehicles which do not have a valid PUC and are found taking fuel.
The Chief Minister said that from November 1 to January 31, there will be a ban on entry and operation of all motor vehicles below BS-VI registered outside Delhi in Delhi. However, CNG and electric vehicles, ambulances, fire brigades, police vehicles and vehicles in categories specifically exempted by the environment department have been kept out of this ban.
The Chief Minister said that from November 1 to February 28, parking fees at authorized parking spots will be doubled. However, parking lots operated by Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), which provide public transport and park-and-ride facilities, will remain out of this system. To reduce traffic during peak hours, from November 1 to February 28, Delhi Municipal Corporation offices will operate from 8:30 am to 5 pm and Delhi Government offices will operate from 10 am to 6:30 pm.
From November 1 to January 31, only 50% of the employees in Delhi government and private offices will work in the office at a time. The remaining employees will work from home. Administrative secretaries, department heads and officers associated with essential services will come to the office regularly. Additional employees can also be called if needed. Private institutions have also been instructed to reduce the number of vehicles commuting to office by implementing staggered working hours, ensuring adherence to work from home, promoting car pooling, ride sharing, public buses and public transport.
The Chief Minister clarified that hospitals, health services, fire services, jails, public transport, electricity, water supply, sanitation, disaster management, environmental protection, pollution control, GRP enforcement agencies and other services declared essential by the government from time to time will remain free from these restrictions. So that the citizens continue to get the necessary facilities uninterrupted.
Dust blowing from construction works is also a major reason for increase in air pollution in Delhi in winter. In view of this, the government has implemented clear and binding arrangements for construction activities, transportation of construction materials and dust control in large buildings. There will be a ban on dust generating demolition and open civil construction activities from 1st November to 31st January. However, projects that relate to essential public infrastructure will be exempted from this restriction.
