Delhi intensifies smog battle: 50% WFH, vehicle bans

By the Editorial Team · Monday, November 2, 2026

New Delhi has launched a comprehensive Winter Action Plan starting November 1 that enforces remote work for half of office employees, restricts older non-compliant vehicles, bans dusty construction, and implements stricter fuel and parking regulations to combat hazardous smog levels. These measures are crucial to reducing pollution that recently surged to over 13 times WHO's safe limits, with continuous monitoring and AI enforcement planned through January 2027 to protect public health.

New Delhi has implemented a series of stringent measures aimed at curbing the city’s persistent winter smog, which has reached hazardous levels in recent days. Beginning November 1, the authorities activated the Winter Action Plan, introducing restrictions designed to reduce air pollution and protect public health.

Under the new rules, half of the employees in both government and private-sector offices are required to work remotely, effectively reducing commuter traffic to alleviate emissions. Essential service workers are exempt from this mandate.

A significant component of the plan targets vehicular pollution. Older vehicles registered outside the city that do not comply with Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission standards are prohibited from entering New Delhi until January 31, 2027. This measure affects an estimated one million vehicles traveling from neighboring areas. Additionally, parking fees at many public facilities have been doubled in an effort to discourage private vehicle use, though parking lots operated by the Delhi Metro are exempted from the fee increase.

To further enforce pollution control, the government introduced a “No PUC, No Fuel” policy, which bars motorists without valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates from purchasing petrol, diesel, or compressed natural gas. Approximately 500 fuel stations have been equipped with automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) cameras to identify and prevent violations.

Construction activities generating dust, including outdoor demolition and excavation, have been suspended until the end of January, with exemptions only granted for essential projects. This ban aims to limit particulate matter contributing to the smog.

Monitoring stations reported particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations reaching 201 micrograms per cubic meter, over 13 times higher than the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit. The government plans to maintain 24-hour monitoring combined with AI-enabled enforcement to detect and penalize non-compliance swiftly.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s office emphasized the seriousness of the situation, highlighting that these strict pollution controls and enhanced enforcement efforts will remain in place throughout the winter months to improve air quality and safeguard the health of New Delhi’s residents.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.