The Delhi government on Monday announced a sweeping winter pollution action plan for the national capital, ordering a doubling of parking charges, staggered office hours, a 50% work-from-home mandate and phased construction bans from November 1.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Union Environment Minister Jitender Yadav announced the measures after a review meeting at Paryavaran Bhavan. The plan is part of the consolidated Winter Pollution Action Plan notified in July, which comes into force each year from November 1 to February 28.
Higher parking charges, fewer office commutes
Existing parking charges at authorised parking sites will be doubled from November 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027 to discourage the use of private vehicles. Parking facilities owned and managed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will be exempt from the revised rates.
Government and private offices have been directed to operate with only half their workforce on-site during the same period, with the remaining 50% working from home. Offices under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will function from 8:30 am to 5 pm, while offices under the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi will operate from 10 am to 6:30 pm. Private offices have been asked to encourage carpooling, ride-sharing and public transport. Essential and emergency services are exempted.
Construction restrictions
Dust-generating demolition work and outdoor civil construction will be banned from November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027. Restrictions will be tightened further from December 10, 2026, when a complete ban on construction and demolition activities will take effect until January 20, 2027. Registration on the Malba app has been made mandatory for building-plan sanction, linking construction permissions with the monitoring of construction and demolition waste.
PUC enforcement from October 1
The government will also launch an enforcement drive from October 1 against vehicles with invalid Pollution Under Control certificates. Vehicles found without a valid PUC certificate can be fined Rs 10,000 under existing provisions, officials said. The chief minister said the system of PUC centres in Delhi would be made more effective and reliable.
Sources: The Economic Times — Delhi announces construction ban, parking charges to double, orders WFH under winter pollution plan; Business Standard — Delhi pollution curbs: Parking fees to double, 50% staff to work from home
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta and Union Environment Minister Jitender Yadav announced the measures after a review meeting at Paryavaran Bhavan. The plan is part of the consolidated Winter Pollution Action Plan notified in July, which comes into force each year from November 1 to February 28.
Higher parking charges, fewer office commutes
Existing parking charges at authorised parking sites will be doubled from November 1, 2026 to February 28, 2027 to discourage the use of private vehicles. Parking facilities owned and managed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation will be exempt from the revised rates.
Government and private offices have been directed to operate with only half their workforce on-site during the same period, with the remaining 50% working from home. Offices under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will function from 8:30 am to 5 pm, while offices under the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi will operate from 10 am to 6:30 pm. Private offices have been asked to encourage carpooling, ride-sharing and public transport. Essential and emergency services are exempted.
Construction restrictions
Dust-generating demolition work and outdoor civil construction will be banned from November 1, 2026 to January 31, 2027. Restrictions will be tightened further from December 10, 2026, when a complete ban on construction and demolition activities will take effect until January 20, 2027. Registration on the Malba app has been made mandatory for building-plan sanction, linking construction permissions with the monitoring of construction and demolition waste.
PUC enforcement from October 1
The government will also launch an enforcement drive from October 1 against vehicles with invalid Pollution Under Control certificates. Vehicles found without a valid PUC certificate can be fined Rs 10,000 under existing provisions, officials said. The chief minister said the system of PUC centres in Delhi would be made more effective and reliable.
Sources: The Economic Times — Delhi announces construction ban, parking charges to double, orders WFH under winter pollution plan; Business Standard — Delhi pollution curbs: Parking fees to double, 50% staff to work from home