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Delhi Unveils Winter Pollution Curbs, Parking Hikes and Office Changes
Delhi is preparing for more polluted air during the winter.
From November 1, some older vehicles registered outside Delhi will not be allowed into the city.
Parking will become more expensive, but electric vehicles will not pay the extra charge.
Construction and demolition work will be limited and then fully stopped for part of the winter.
Offices will use different opening times, and many employees will work from home.
Officials will check vehicles, pollution-control certificates and construction sites more closely.
More buses, Metro use and pollution-monitoring stations are also planned.
The government says pollution comes both from Delhi and from surrounding areas in the wider NCR region.
Vehicles registered outside Delhi that are below BS-VI will be barred from entering the capital from November 1, while electric vehicles will be exempt from higher parking charges.
Authorised parking charges will double from November 1 to February 28, excluding Delhi Metro Rail Corporation parking facilities.
Dust-generating demolition and outdoor construction will be prohibited from November 1 to December 10, followed by a complete construction and demolition ban through January 20.
Government and private offices will reduce physical staffing by 50 per cent, with staggered timings and half of employees working from home.
The government plans stronger pollution enforcement using AI monitoring, cameras, 334 enforcement teams, vehicle fitness checks and expanded air-quality stations.
- Who
- The Delhi government, led in the meeting by Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, along with Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and other officials.
- What
- A package of winter pollution-control measures covering vehicle entry, parking, construction, office schedules, enforcement and public transport.
- Where
- Delhi and the wider National Capital Region.
- When
- Most measures begin November 1; parking and office changes run through February 28, while construction restrictions continue in stages through January 20.
- Why
- To reduce winter air pollution, when transport can contribute 20 per cent or more of Delhi’s PM2.5 emissions and pollution is also influenced by surrounding areas.
Key facts
- Vehicle restriction
- Non-Delhi vehicles below BS-VI will be prohibited from entering Delhi from November 1; CNG vehicles will not fall under the separate BS-IV restriction.
- Parking charges
- Authorised parking charges will double from November 1 to February 28; electric vehicles are exempt, and Delhi Metro Rail Corporation parking is excluded.
- Construction restrictions
- Dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction are prohibited from November 1 to December 10; all construction and demolition is banned from December 10 to January 20.
- Office arrangements
- MCD offices will operate from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Delhi government offices from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.; physical staffing will be reduced by 50 per cent.
- Monitoring network
- Air-quality monitoring stations under the Commission for Air Quality Management will increase from 47 to 60.
- Enforcement teams
- The government will deploy 334 teams: 256 ward teams and 78 Delhi Pollution Control Committee teams.
- Public transport targets
- Delhi has 5,088 electric buses and plans to add 150 more; average daily Metro ridership is targeted to rise from 65 lakh to 72 lakh.
Sources
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