Delhi Announces Winter Pollution Curbs
Parking charges will double and offices will operate with 50% physical attendance from November as Delhi rolls out its winter air-quality measures.
The Delhi government has announced a set of measures to curb air pollution during the winter months, including higher parking charges, staggered office timings, reduced physical attendance at workplaces and restrictions on construction and demolition activities.
From November 1, parking charges at authorised parking facilities will be doubled and remain higher until February 28, 2027. Parking facilities owned and managed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will be exempt from the increase.
Government and private offices will also limit physical attendance to 50% during the winter period, with the remaining workforce working from home. The arrangement will run from November 1 to February 28, 2027, with essential and emergency services exempt.
Government offices will follow staggered timings to reduce peak-hour traffic. Municipal Corporation of Delhi offices will operate from 8:30 am to 5 pm, while Delhi government offices will function from 10 am to 6:30 pm during the winter period.
The government has also announced restrictions on construction activity. Dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction work will be prohibited from November 1 to January 31, while a stricter complete ban on construction and demolition will apply from December 10 to January 20, subject to exemptions for essential activities.
The measures are part of Delhi’s proactive winter air-quality framework, which is intended to introduce pollution-control measures ahead of the period when the capital typically experiences worsening air quality.
The government has also been preparing additional measures covering vehicle emissions, including enforcement of the “No PUCC, No Fuel” policy and action against end-of-life vehicles.
The winter framework will operate alongside the Commission for Air Quality Management’s Graded Response Action Plan, which provides additional restrictions depending on pollution levels.