Key facts
- Delhi's government has implemented permanent anti-pollution measures for the winter season.
- The curbs will be active from November 1 to February 28 annually.
- Measures include doubling parking fees, staggered office hours, and a ban on non-essential construction.
- Government and private offices will require 50% of staff to work from home between November 1 and January 31.
- A cash incentive is available for vehicle owners who switch to electric vehicles.
The government of India's national capital territory of Delhi has announced a permanent set of measures to combat severe air pollution during the winter months. Previously, anti-pollution actions were imposed only when air quality deteriorated below a certain threshold. Under the new policy, these curbs will be continuously in place from November 1 to February 28 each year, regardless of the Air Quality Index (AQI).
Key measures include doubling parking charges to discourage private vehicle use, implementing staggered timings for all government offices, and prohibiting all outdoor civil construction activity except for essential public infrastructure projects. Additionally, between November 1 and January 31, both government and private offices will be mandated to have half their staff working remotely. Violators of these regulations will face penalties, including prosecution.
In a related initiative to reduce pollution, the government also announced this week a cash incentive of over $1,000 for car owners willing to scrap their old vehicles in favor of electric vehicles.