Ban on construction, non-Delhi-registered vehicles below BS-VI from November 1

Delhi government’s fixed-time measures to curb air pollution during the winter, including a ban on dust-generating demolition and outdoor construction activities and the plying of all non-Delhi-registered vehicles below BS-VI emission norms in the city, with a few exemptions, will kick in from Sunday (November 1, 2026). Also read | What is the significance of Delhi’s Winter Pollution Plan | ExplainedUnder the restrictions, the Delhi government and private offices will have to implement a mandatory 50% work-from-home and existing parking charges at authorised parking sites will be doubled to discourage use of private vehicles from Sunday (November 1, 2026). All four measures will be in place from November 1 to January 31, except for the doubling of parking rates, which will remain till February 28. These restrictions, among others, are part of a gazette notification issued by the Delhi government on June 23 this year to curb air pollution during the peak pollution window. Also, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will not get fuel at fuel stations throughout the year and action will be taken against them, as per the notification. Could see relaxation till DeepavaliHowever, there could be some relaxation in the enforcement of the rules till Deepavali. When asked about the implementation of the restrictions under the notification, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa told The Hindu, “We will try not to inconvenience people as much as possible till Deepavali. We will mostly request people to follow the directions till Deepavali.” About the ban on plying of non-Delhi registered vehicles below BS-VI emission standards, the Minister said that the focus will be on the borders to being with, to check the entry of such vehicles. “We are closely monitoring the situation and I have already had a meeting with Transport Department Commissioners of nearby States to tell them to not send buses below BS-VI to Delhi,” Mr. Sirsa said.Also, to stagger office timings and reduce traffic congestion, offices under the Delhi government will work from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., while offices under the MCD will work from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. from November 1 to February 28, as per the notification. Special enforcement teams will be deployed, and continuous monitoring will be conducted through ANPR cameras and the AI-enabled Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC), according to officials. Some exemptions As per the notification, electric, CNG, emergency and sovereign duty vehicles are exempted from the ban on vehicles. Similarly, essential public infrastructure projects are exempted from the ban on construction and demolition. Also, finishing, plumbing, electrical work etc. are permitted within the construction site with strict compliance to Construction & Demolition Waste Management Rules and dust control norms.For the work from home direction too essential and emergency services are exempted. Also, for government offices, all administrative Secretaries and Heads of Departments have to attend office regularly and they can all officers to the office if required. Also, parking charges will not increase at parking spaces owned and managed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC). ‘Special restrictions’ Terming the restrictions “special restrictions”, the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) on Saturday (October 31) said that the Environment Department has made all necessary preparations for the effective implementation of the curbs.Going beyond the usual measures under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which are invoked depending on the current or near-future air quality, these measures are fixed-term and for a longer period. The GRAP is a set of short-term emergency measures to reduce air pollution and is divided into four stages. The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas (CAQM) announces the different stages, depending on the current level of pollution recorded or forecast for the near future.A particular stage of GRAP is usually announced with “immediate effect” and without an end date. It is then revoked when the air quality improves.But unlike GRAP, these fixed-time restrictions will stay irrespective of the air quality at a particular time.