New Delhi: As Delhi’s air quality continues to hover in the ‘severe’ category, the city government has announced a fresh round of stringent anti-pollution measures, effective from Thursday, in addition to Stage-IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) enforced by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

The move comes after Delhi recorded ‘severe’ AQI levels for three consecutive days since Saturday, December 13, triggering emergency interventions across sectors.

Here are the key new measures announced by the Delhi government:

1. Mandatory Work From Home (WFH)

  • All government and private offices in Delhi must implement work from home from Thursday.
  • Offices are allowed to function in physical mode with only up to 50% staff attendance.
  • The remaining workforce must work remotely.
  • Violations may attract strict action, Labour Minister Kapil Mishra warned.

2. Who Is Exempt From WFH

Emergency and frontline workers are excluded, including:

  • Hospitals and healthcare services
  • Fire services
  • Departments involved in pollution control
  • Essential services such as transport and sanitation
  • Daily-wage labourers are also exempt from the mandate.

3. Construction Ban and Compensation

  • Construction activities remain restricted under GRAP-IV.
  • Affected construction workers will receive ₹10,000 as compensation for the period GRAP-IV remains in force.
  • The registration process for compensation is ongoing, the labour minister said.

4. No Fuel Without PUC Certificate

  • From Thursday, vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates will not be given fuel at petrol pumps.
  • Enforcement teams from the transport department and Delhi Traffic Police will be deployed at fuel stations.

5. PUC Certificate Details

Issued after emission checks at authorised centres.

Cost:

  • ₹60 for two- and three-wheelers
  • ₹80 for four-wheelers
  • ₹100 for diesel vehicles

Validity: 12 months for BS-IV and BS-VI vehicles.

 

6. Ban on Entry of Non-BS6 Vehicles

Vehicles below BS-6 standards and registered outside Delhi will not be allowed to enter the city while GRAP-III and GRAP-IV are in force. The Supreme Court has also lifted protection against coercive action for BS-3 and older vehicles.

 

7. Ban on Trucks Carrying Construction Material

Trucks carrying construction material are barred from entering Delhi. The government has urged people travelling from outside Delhi to use BS-6 compliant vehicles only.

 

8. Increased Enforcement at Borders

Enforcement teams will be stationed at Delhi borders and petrol pumps to strictly implement the restrictions.

 

9. Carpooling App in the Pipeline

The Delhi government has announced plans to launch its own carpooling app to reduce vehicular emissions in the city. The measures aim to curb vehicular and construction-related pollution as Delhi battles one of its worst air quality spells this season.