Delhi imposes pollution curbs including vehicle bans and work from home
The measures include restricting office attendance to 50 per cent and banning older vehicles registered outside the city.
The Delhi government and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) have introduced several restrictions to combat rising pollution levels, according to reports by Times Now and The Federal. These measures include banning certain older vehicles, limiting office attendance, and halting outdoor construction activities.
From November 1 to January 31, government and private offices must restrict physical attendance to 50 per cent, with the rest of the staff working from home. The CAQM order specifies that this 50 per cent work-from-home rule will apply in Delhi and five NCR districts, including Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar, from November 5 to 20.
Vehicles registered outside Delhi that meet BS-IV or older emission standards are prohibited from operating in the city between November 1 and January 31. Exemptions apply to electric and CNG vehicles, ambulances, fire tenders, and police vehicles. To manage traffic, Municipal Corporation of Delhi offices will operate from 8.30 am to 5 pm, while Delhi government offices will run from 10 am to 6.30 pm.
Dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction are banned for three months, with a total ban in place from December 10 to January 20. Essential infrastructure, such as highways, railways, and metro services, are exempt. Additionally, parking fees at authorised facilities will increase by 100 per cent from November 1 to February 28, though DMRC parking lots are excluded from this hike.
Enforcement will be supported by AI-powered monitoring, ANPR cameras, and special teams. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has requested residents and businesses to follow the new restrictions as air quality levels fluctuate.