The Delhi government has announced a winter action plan to curb air pollution, including restrictions on vehicles below BS-VI emission standards entering the capital from neighbouring states and a ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ rule from November 1 to February 28.
The plan, announced on Tuesday, will target several sources of seasonal pollution in the National Capital Region. According to the report, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control certificate will not be supplied fuel at petrol pumps during the four-month enforcement period.
The government also plans to restrict the entry of vehicles from outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards. The measure places the focus on vehicle emissions across the capital’s borders, where daily commuter and goods traffic connects Delhi with neighbouring parts of the National Capital Region.
Construction activity is also expected to face restrictions as the government prepares measures to control dust pollution. The action plan includes surveillance through artificial intelligence-enabled cameras, although the report does not specify the locations, operating protocol or penalties attached to the monitoring system.
The government has approved an expansion of mechanised road sweeping to cover approximately 609 kilometres of roads in Delhi. Road dust is one of the pollution sources the plan seeks to address, and the proposed increase in machine-based cleaning is intended to reduce the amount of dust being resuspended by traffic.
The plan also includes a collaboration with IIT Delhi to identify sources of PM2.5 and PM10 pollution. The study will examine vehicle emissions and generate pollution-related details at different times, after which authorities are expected to use the findings to focus control measures in specific areas. The report does not provide the timeline, monitoring locations or operating details of the arrangement.
Workplace operations are another part of the government’s response. The plan proposes that 50% of employees work from home during the winter pollution period. The report does not clarify whether this direction will apply to government offices, private employers or both, or how compliance will be administered.
The government’s announcement comes ahead of the period when pollution levels in Delhi commonly rise around Diwali. By combining vehicle restrictions, fuel-point enforcement, construction controls, road cleaning, emissions monitoring and remote working, the plan covers both direct emission sources and activities that increase daily movement across the city.
The immediate implementation milestones identified in the announcement are the start of the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ policy on November 1 and its proposed continuation until February 28. Further operational details on vehicle entry checks, construction restrictions, AI-enabled surveillance and the work-from-home measure remain to be specified.
