Delhi to implement winter pollution curbs from November 1
New rules include a 50 per cent work-from-home mandate and restrictions on vehicles below BS-VI standards.
The Delhi government will enforce a series of winter restrictions starting Sunday, November 1, 2026, to combat air pollution, according to reports by Mint and The Hindu. The measures, which include a 50 per cent work-from-home mandate for government and private offices, will remain in force for varying periods until February 28.
Under the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) rules, vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards will be prohibited from entering the city from November 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027. Only BS-VI, CNG, and electric vehicles, along with exempted emergency vehicles like ambulances and police cars, are allowed to ply, Mint reported.
Transport Department estimates cited by PTI suggest more than 10 lakh vehicles in neighbouring NCR areas, including Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad, and Ghaziabad, could be affected. The Supreme Court Bar Association has raised objections to these restrictions, noting that many advocates commute daily from these areas.
The pollution curbs also include a ban on dust-generating outdoor civil construction and demolition activities from November 1 to January 31. A complete ban on such activities will be imposed between December 10 and January 20. Additionally, parking fees at authorised lots will double from November 1 until February 28.
To reduce congestion, Municipal Corporation of Delhi offices will operate from 8:30 am to 5 pm, while Delhi government offices will function from 10 am to 6:30 pm. Fuel stations will also be prohibited from providing fuel to vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate.