Delhi implements winter pollution curbs with vehicle and construction restrictions
The Delhi government has introduced measures including vehicle bans and office attendance limits to manage seasonal air pollution.
The Delhi government activated winter pollution control measures on November 1, according to Urban Acres. The framework includes restrictions on construction, parking, and certain vehicles, and will run alongside the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Non-BS-VI out-of-state vehicles that are not electric or powered by CNG face entry restrictions. This could affect more than 10 lakh vehicles from neighbouring National Capital Region (NCR) districts. Emergency vehicles, such as police cars, fire tenders, and ambulances, are exempt from these rules.
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has sought intervention from the apex court administration regarding these vehicle restrictions. In a letter to the Supreme Court secretary-general, the association stated that the rules would cause hardship to lawyers commuting from Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurugram, and Faridabad.
Construction and demolition activities will face phased bans, with outdoor dust-generating work prohibited from November 1 to January 31, except for essential infrastructure. The Commission for Air Quality Management has also announced a halt on such activities across the NCR from November 5 to November 20.
Delhi government and private offices must limit physical attendance to 50 per cent from November 1 to January 31. Additionally, parking charges at authorised facilities will double from November 1 to February 28, though Delhi Metro Rail Corporation facilities are excluded.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has appealed to residents and institutions to comply with the restrictions. Enforcement will be supported by automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras and an AI-enabled Integrated Command and Control Centre.