Archive · 28 Sep 2026
Delhi Unveils Time-Bound Winter Plan to Curb Air Pollution
Delhi gets much more polluted during the winter months.
Government officials have created a plan to reduce pollution before heavy smog arrives.
Cars without a valid pollution certificate may not be allowed to buy fuel at many petrol pumps from October 1.
Older, more polluting vehicles from outside Delhi may face entry restrictions from November 1.
Officials will work to control dust from roads and construction, stop waste burning and check factories.
They will also add more air-quality monitoring stations and enforcement teams.
Some roads will be changed to reduce traffic, and parking charges and office schedules may also be adjusted.
People living near 37 pollution hotspots will help monitor local problems.
The government wants pollution-control work to have clear deadlines and measurable results.
Delhi and Union authorities introduced measures targeting vehicle emissions, road and construction dust, waste burning, industry, traffic and pollution hotspots.
From October 1, vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control certificates could be denied fuel at 500 petrol pumps using number-plate recognition systems and may face fines of up to ₹10,000.
From November 1, Delhi plans to restrict entry by older, more polluting vehicles registered outside the city.
Authorities will increase monitoring and enforcement, including 334 industrial enforcement teams, 60 air-quality stations and an AI-enabled command-and-control centre.
The plan targets completion of the remaining 1,872 kilometres of road redevelopment by November 15 and focuses on 37 identified pollution hotspots.
- Who
- The Union and Delhi governments, led in the meeting by Union environment minister Bhupender Yadav and Delhi chief minister Rekha Gupta.
- What
- A winter air-pollution action plan with measures covering vehicles, dust, waste burning, industry, public transport, traffic and pollution hotspots.
- When
- Key measures begin October 1 and November 1; road redevelopment has a November 15 deadline, while the permanent winter framework runs annually from November 1 to February 28.
- Where
- Delhi, with additional coordination planned across the Delhi-National Capital Region.
- Why
- Delhi's air quality typically deteriorates between November and February, with recent winter average AQI levels reported between 312 and 342.
- No PUCC, No Fuel
- Starting October 1, vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control certificates could be denied fuel at 500 petrol pumps.
- Vehicle restrictions
- Delhi plans to restrict older, more polluting vehicles registered outside the city from entering from November 1.
- Road redevelopment
- Of the targeted work, 1,193 kilometres have been completed and 1,872 kilometres are targeted for completion by November 15.
- Pollution hotspots
- Authorities identified 37 hotspots for focused interventions and public monitoring.
- Industrial enforcement
- A total of 334 enforcement teams will target non-compliant industries.
- Air-quality monitoring
- The number of monitoring stations is planned to increase from 47 to 60.
- PM2.5 target
- The government aims to reduce Delhi's annual average PM2.5 concentration by 15% in 2026.