Delhi implements vehicle bans and work-from-home rules to curb pollution
New restrictions including a ban on non-BS-VI vehicles from outside the city and 50 per cent work-from-home began on Sunday.
New pollution control measures came into effect in Delhi on Sunday, including a ban on certain vehicles from outside the city and a 50 per cent work-from-home mandate for staff. According to The Hawk, petrol and diesel vehicles registered outside the capital that fail to meet BS-6 emission standards are now prohibited from entering the city.
The restriction on these non-BS-VI vehicles will remain in place until January 31, 2027. Exempt from this ban are electric and CNG vehicles, ambulances, fire tenders, and police vehicles. To monitor compliance, the government will use ANPR cameras and an AI-enabled Integrated Command and Control Centre.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta appealed to citizens, construction agencies, and commercial establishments to follow the new rules. She stated that the Environment Department has prepared for the implementation, with the Transport Department and Delhi Traffic Police directed to ensure enforcement.
Under the new rules, government and private offices must limit physical attendance to 50 per cent until January 31. To manage traffic, Municipal Corporation of Delhi offices will operate from 8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., while Delhi government offices will run from 10 a.m. to 6.30 p.m.
The government has also banned outdoor civil construction and demolition activities that generate dust, though essential infrastructure projects may be exempt. Additionally, parking fees at authorised lots in Delhi will double from November 1 to February 28, excluding lots managed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation.