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Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) have introduced strict restrictions on vehicles, construction activities, office attendance and parking to tackle worsening air pollution and smog during the winter months.
Under the new rules, vehicles that do not meet Bharat Stage VI (BS-VI) emission standards will be barred from entering or operating in Delhi from November 1, 2026, to January 31, 2027.
According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), enforcement will involve special monitoring teams, Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) cameras and an AI-powered Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC). Violators will also face electronic challans.
Vehicles registered outside Delhi that fail to meet BS-VI emission standards will not be allowed to enter the capital. The restriction is expected to affect around one million older petrol and diesel vehicles travelling from neighbouring areas, including Noida, Gurugram, Faridabad and Ghaziabad.
Electric and CNG-powered vehicles will be exempt, along with emergency service vehicles such as ambulances and fire engines.
All demolition work and open-air infrastructure construction activities that generate dust will remain suspended from November 1 to January 31.
However, certain essential government infrastructure projects may continue under specified conditions. Indoor renovation, plumbing and electrical work will also be permitted if dust-control guidelines are followed.
Both government and private offices have been instructed to ensure that no more than 50 per cent of their employees attend workplaces at a time. The remaining employees must work from home.
Organisations providing emergency and essential services will be exempt from the directive.
To reduce traffic congestion, office hours for government agencies have also been revised.
Delhi Municipal Corporation (MCD) offices will operate from 8:30am to 5pm, while Delhi government offices will remain open from 10am to 6:30pm.
Parking fees at many government-operated facilities will be doubled to discourage private vehicle use. However, the increased charges will not apply to parking facilities owned and operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC).
The ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ policy also came into effect at petrol pumps across Delhi on November 1.
ANPR cameras have been installed at 500 petrol pumps to identify vehicle registration numbers and verify pollution-related documents.
Vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will not be supplied with petrol, diesel or CNG.
People travelling regularly between Delhi and neighbouring cities have been advised to check their vehicles’ emission standards before planning journeys to avoid difficulties at border checkpoints and possible fines.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has urged residents to comply with the new restrictions and follow Delhi Traffic Police’s social media platforms for updates on traffic regulations and other measures.
