Diwali 2026: Delhi Metro to commence services at 6 am on select routes; check new timings here

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced revised timings for metro services on select routes on Sunday, November 8, on the occasion of Diwali, with trains on three lines set to begin operations an hour earlier than usual.

Metro services on the Pink Line, Magenta Line and Grey Line will commence at 6 am from their respective terminal stations, instead of the usual Sunday start time of 7 am, DMRC said in a post on X.

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On the Pink Line, early services will be available on the Majlis Park-Majlis Park/Shiv Vihar stretch. On the Magenta Line, trains will start early on the Botanical Garden-Krishna Park Extension and Majlis Park-Deepali Chowk stretches. The early start on the Grey Line will cover the Dwarka-Kakrola-Dhansa Bus Stand section.

Following the early commencement, regular train services on these corridors will operate as per the Sunday timetable.

Meanwhile, the last train services from terminal stations across all Delhi Metro lines, including the Airport Express Line, will depart at 10 pm on Sunday.

The revised schedule has been announced to facilitate commuters travelling during the Diwali festivities.

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'No cracker zones' in Delhi

Delhi Police have strictly prohibited the bursting of firecrackers in select areas marked as 'no-cracker zones' in an attempt to curb pollution and protect sensitive establishments in the national capital during the Diwali festival.

Bursting of firecrackers has been prohibited within a 300-metre radius of all hospitals and schools, designating them as strict 'no-cracker zones', according to the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Shahdara).

Emphasising zero tolerance for violations, the DCP warned that buffer zones around healthcare facilities and educational institutes are strictly off-limits, and special police teams have been deployed to monitor compliance and initiate stern legal action against violators.

Speaking to ANI about the enforcement of the apex court's directives, DCP Rajendra Prasad Meena emphasised that firecrackers must carry authenticated verification markers.

"In accordance with the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court, only green crackers are permitted to be burst. Purchases must be made only from authorised sources, and the crackers must bear a certified QR code," DCP Meena said.

Diwali cracker timings

According to the DCP, bursting of crackers has been restricted to a total window of three hours across two days of Diwali festival.

"Furthermore, there are clear-cut directions regarding the permitted timings for bursting crackers: on November 7 and 8, crackers may be burst for a total of three hours—from 6:00 am to 7:00 am, and from 8:00 pm to 10:00 pm," he said.

"Should anyone violate these rules—whether by bursting crackers or selling illegal ones—strict legal action will be taken against them," DCP Meena asserted.

Ahead of Diwali, the Delhi Police heightened security and intensified foot patrolling across crowded commercial hubs to maintain law and order and ensure public safety.

Delhi AQI ahead of Diwali 2026

Delhi woke up to yet another day of very poor air on Saturday morning, a day before Diwali with the air quality index (AQI) at 364 (very poor), as compared to the 24-hour average AQI of 382 at 4pm on Friday, according to data from the Central Board of Pollution Control (CPCB).

Out of the 59 air quality monitoring stations in the city, 18 recorded AQI in the 'severe' category on Saturday morning.

According to forecasts by the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, the AQI is expected to reach the 'severe' category on Saturday.