Capital imposes stringent winter pollution controls

With winter setting in, Delhi gears up to enforce a series of measures to curb air pollution from Sunday, including restrictions on the entry of certain vehicles, a ban on dust-generating construction activities, 50 per cent office attendance and a hike in parking charges, as part of the steps taken by the Delhi Government to curb pollution in the capital.

The Delhi Government’s Environment Department has made all necessary preparations to implement these restrictions effectively. The Transport Department, Delhi Traffic Police,

Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Municipal Corporation, and other concerned agencies have been directed to ensure strict enforcement.

The Chief Minister’s Office said in a statement that special enforcement teams will be deployed and continuous monitoring will be conducted through ANPR cameras and the AI-enabled Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC).

From November 1 to January 31, Delhi will ban motor vehicles registered outside Delhi that meet BS-IV or older emission standards. CNG and electric vehicles, ambulances, fire tenders, police vehicles, and other notified exempt vehicles will be exempt.

ANPR cameras installed at Delhi’s entry points and other key locations will identify restricted vehicles. E-challans will be generated automatically for non-compliant vehicles, and the Delhi Traffic Police will take strict action-including vehicle impoundment-as per rules. Dedicated teams from the Transport Department and Traffic Police will also inspect vehicles on the ground.

Over 10 lakh vehicles from Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad will be affected by Delhi’s decision to prohibit the entry of vehicles below BS-VI emission standards, according to Transport Department estimates.

On the construction front, dust-generating demolition activities and outdoor civil construction work will be prohibited from November 1 to January 31, except for essential public infrastructure projects. Finishing, plumbing and electrical work within construction sites will be permitted, subject to compliance with dust-control norms. Additionally, a complete ban on all construction and demolition activities-except for specified exemptions-will be in effect from December 10 to January 20.

The existing parking charges at authorised parking sites will be doubled from November 1 to February 28 to discourage private vehicle use. Parking facilities owned and managed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will remain exempt from the hike, the order said.

New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) officials said they would implement the parking charge hike directions in accordance with the official orders.

MCD officials said the direction to hike parking fees was never implemented in the capital, even though the civic body manages most parking spaces in the city.

To reduce congestion during peak hours, offices under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will function from 8.30 am to 5 pm, while those under the Delhi Government will operate from 10 am to 6.30 pm between November 1 and February 28. Government and private offices must also ensure that no more than 50 per cent of staff are physically present between November 1 and January 31, with the remaining employees mandatorily working from home.

50 Per cent Attendance in Offices and Work From Home: From November 1 to January 31, Government and private offices will limit physical attendance to a maximum of 50 per cent, with the remaining staff working from home. Essential and emergency services will receive prescribed exemptions.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has appealed to all citizens, vehicle owners, construction agencies, institutions, RWAs, and commercial establishments to follow the restrictions starting November 1 with full responsibility.