The government has adopted decisive measures to combat rising air pollution in Delhi during the winter period. Local authorities will tighten controls on vehicles, construction work, and office working hours.
Delhi's Chief Minister, Reha Gupta, announced that from November 1 to January 31, vehicles registered outside the region that do not meet BS-VI environmental standards will be prohibited from entering the capital. This means cars with emission standards lower than BS-VI (such as BS3 or BS4) will not be allowed into the capital during the specified period.
The Delhi government's action plan will be in effect from November 1 to January 31. Gupta shared this on the social media platform X, noting that last year's experience allowed for more thorough preparation for the fight against pollution. She also called on Delhi residents to assist in implementing these measures.
Rule for vehicles not meeting BS6 standard
Furthermore, steps such as transitioning to 50% remote work, changing office hours, and using artificial intelligence technologies to monitor construction sites will be introduced to limit pollution levels.
No PUC Certificate — No Fuel
To control pollution in Delhi, a 'No valid PUC certificate — no fuel' policy is also being implemented. Vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will not receive fuel. The government is also urging citizens to switch to more eco-friendly and less polluting modes of transport. To achieve this, the use of electric buses, metro, last-mile services, and carpooling will be incentivized to reduce dependence on private cars and decrease road traffic.
Restrictions will be imposed on construction and demolition work to prevent dust pollution during the winter period. Rules for transporting construction materials such as cement, sand, and gravel will also be established. Monitoring of construction sites will be carried out using AI-equipped cameras directly linked to the government's central command center to ensure compliance with regulations.
50% Remote Work in Offices
The Delhi government will also take steps to reduce road traffic, in addition to combating pollution. The minister announced the introduction of a 50% remote work regime in both the public and private sectors. Additionally, the start and end times of work will be adjusted in various offices to avoid simultaneous traffic congestion on the roads. The government hopes these measures will help reduce the number of vehicles on the streets and control pollution caused by traffic jams.
Reha Gupta emphasized that timely preventive measures are necessary to improve air quality in Delhi. She appealed to the public to participate in this initiative and share the collective responsibility for reducing pollution levels. The government's focus is not only on vehicle emissions but also on dust rising from construction sites and reducing the load from road traffic.