The Delhi government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change, has unveiled its Winter Action Plan 2026-27 to combat severe seasonal air pollution. The comprehensive multi-sector strategy relies on strict inter-agency enforcement from bodies like the CAQM and CPCB.
Core Pillars of the Action Plan
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Vehicular & Fuel Restrictions:
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“No PUCC, No Fuel” Campaign: Starting October 1, fuel will be denied at 500 ANPR-equipped pumps to vehicles lacking a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) or exceeding their legal lifespan.
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Interstate Vehicle Ban: Effective November 1, non-BS-VI registered petrol and diesel vehicles coming from outside Delhi will be barred entry (CNG and electric vehicles are exempt).
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Office Commuting Guidelines: Government and private offices are advised to implement 50% work-from-home (or two WFH days weekly) starting November 1. MCD offices will shift to 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM, and Delhi government offices will operate from 10:00 AM – 6:30 PM. Parking fees at authorised spots will double (excluding Metro parking).
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Construction & Demolition Rules:
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Dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil works will be restricted from November 1 to January 31.
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A total ban on all construction and demolition activity is scheduled from December 10 to January 20.
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Sites are mandated to maintain 100% CCTV coverage.
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Dust Control & Infrastructure:
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Targeting road dust through mechanised sweeping (utilizing 98 machines across two shifts), deep cleaning, water sprinkling, and targeted redevelopment of ~3,000 km of roads.
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Weekly joint inspections of 37 pollution hotspots by public representatives.
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Industrial Compliance & Monitoring:
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Out of 11,271 surveyed industrial units, 2,283 polluting units have been sealed.
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An AI-enabled Command and Control Centre goes live on October 1, backed by 334 enforcement teams and the public Green Delhi App for citizen reporting.
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Key Takeaway: Delhi’s new winter strategy couples aggressive bans—such as strict entry rules for non-BS-VI out-of-state vehicles and phased construction freezes—with technological monitoring to curb seasonal smog.
