Delhi pollution restrictions from November 1: 50% WFH, parking charges to double, vehicle curbs and more; check full list under winter action plan

With Delhi's winter pollution season beginning, several restrictions will kick in from November 1, affecting commuters, vehicle owners, office-goers and construction activities. The Delhi government is tightening its anti-pollution measures with a ban on certain vehicles registered outside the capital, restrictions on construction work, doubled parking charges and a 50% work-from-home requirement for government and private offices.

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Delhi government introduces 50% work-from-home rule

Government and private offices will be required to ensure that no more than 50% of their staff are physically present at workplaces between November 1 and January 31. The remaining employees will mandatorily work from home.


Private establishments have also been directed to introduce staggered working hours and encourage carpooling, ride-sharing and the use of public transport.

Essential and emergency services, including hospitals, fire services, public transport, electricity and water supply, sanitation and disaster management agencies, have been exempted from the work-from-home restrictions.

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Delhi changes office timings to reduce traffic congestion

To ease congestion during peak hours, offices under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi will operate from 8.30 am to 5 pm, while Delhi government offices will function from 10 am to 6.30 pm between November 1 and February 28.

Delhi parking charges to double from November 1

Existing parking charges at authorised parking sites will be doubled from November 1 to February 28 to discourage private vehicle use. Parking facilities owned and managed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will remain exempt from the hike.

New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) officials said they would implement the directions in accordance with the official orders.

However, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) said the direction to increase parking fees had not been implemented in previous years, despite the civic body managing most of the city's parking spaces.

The MCD has cited contractual obligations with private parking operators as one of the reasons. Existing agreements do not provide for additional revenue to automatically accrue to the civic body.

The corporation has also flagged the absence of consolidated data on vehicles using its parking facilities, making it difficult to assess the impact of restrictions on older vehicles registered in Delhi and other NCR cities.

One official said the possibility of doubling parking charges under GRAP measures remained slim this time as well. However, another official said the proposal was likely to be approved by the competent authority on Monday.

Delhi vehicle entry restrictions for non-BS-VI vehicles

Vehicles registered outside Delhi and below BS-VI emission standards will not be permitted to ply in the national capital from November 1 to January 31, according to an earlier order issued by the Delhi government's Environment and Forest Department.

Vehicles running on CNG or electricity and emergency vehicles, including ambulances, fire tenders and police vehicles, have been exempted.

Over 10 lakh vehicles from Gurugram, Faridabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Ghaziabad are expected to be affected by the restriction, according to Transport Department estimates.

Construction activities face restrictions from November 1

Dust-generating demolition activities and outdoor civil construction work will be prohibited from November 1 to January 31, except for essential public infrastructure projects.

Finishing, plumbing and electrical work at construction sites will be allowed, subject to compliance with dust-control norms.

Officials have also said that a complete ban on construction and demolition activities, including indoor work, will be imposed between December 20 and January 20.

Ban on open waste burning, strict action against violators

The order makes resident welfare associations (RWAs), housing societies, government and private establishments, and contractors responsible for preventing the open burning of waste, biomass, leaves, garbage and plastic on premises under their control.

These establishments have been directed to provide adequate heating facilities using electricity or other approved clean fuels to prevent workers from resorting to open burning.

Authorities have also been asked to maintain vigilance, including through drone-based surveillance, particularly during night hours.

Violations will attract penal action under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986. Possible measures include prosecution, environmental compensation and the sealing or closure of premises.

Schools asked to implement measures under plan

The Delhi Directorate of Education has directed all government and private schools in the national capital to implement a winter action plan to mitigate air pollution, including sprinkling water to control dust, promoting public transport and conducting anti-firecracker awareness campaigns.

In a circular issued on October 29, the Directorate asked heads of all government, government-aided and private unaided recognised schools to take necessary measures under the Winter Action Plan 2026-27 and ensure its effective implementation.

The schools have also been asked to promote recycling and reuse, switch off lights when not in use, avoid dust-generating construction activities and increase green patches within school premises.