Delhi Unveils Winter Action Plan With Vehicle Curbs and Construction Bans
Delhi's Winter Action Plan 2026-27 introduces BS-VI entry rules, a No PUCC No Fuel drive, phased construction bans and dust-control steps.
The Delhi government has released its Winter Action Plan for 2026-27, setting out a fresh slate of restrictions and enforcement measures aimed at curbing air pollution across the National Capital Region. The plan has been prepared jointly with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and relies on coordination among the Commission for Air Quality Management, the Central Pollution Control Board, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation, Delhi Police, local bodies and residents.
Vehicle restrictions
Private vehicle owners face tighter scrutiny under the plan. The "No PUCC, No Fuel" campaign will be stepped up from October 1 across all 500 fuel pumps equipped with automatic number plate recognition systems. Vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate, or those that have outlived their prescribed lifespan, will be refused fuel.
From November 1, petrol and diesel vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI standards will be barred from entering the city. CNG and electric vehicles are exempt. The government will also intensify the Parivartan Scheme, which encourages the scrapping of old and end-of-life vehicles and the adoption of electric vehicles, alongside awareness drives aimed at two-wheeler riders, taxi operators and goods-vehicle drivers.
Construction and dust control
Construction curbs will be rolled out in phases. Between November 1 and January 31, dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil work will be prohibited. A complete ban on construction and demolition activity will apply from December 10 to January 20. All construction sites will be required to have full CCTV coverage.
For road dust, the plan targets the redevelopment of roughly 3,000 km of roads, of which 1,193 km has already been completed. Steps include deeper cleaning, mechanised sweeping, water sprinkling, footpath repairs and greening of vacant land. The fleet of mechanical road sweeping machines has risen to 98, deployed in two shifts. Weekly inspections of 37 air-quality and traffic hotspots by MPs, MLAs, councillors and nodal officers will continue, and 15 major road stretches are marked for signal-free, congestion-free movement, with eight already finished.
Work hours and commuting
Government and private offices have been advised to adopt 50 per cent work-from-home arrangements, or two WFH days a week, from November 1. Municipal Corporation of Delhi offices will run from 8:30 am to 5 pm, while Delhi government offices will operate between 10 am and 6:30 pm. Parking charges at authorised locations will be doubled, with Metro parking facilities excluded.
Public transport is being promoted as an alternative. The city currently runs 6,840 buses, including 5,088 electric buses. The administration is aiming to lift daily Metro ridership to 7.2 million and DTC ridership to 4.2 million. A campaign promoting the Delhi Metro Sarathi App for better last-mile connectivity will run from October 1 to 10.
Industry and monitoring
On industrial pollution, 2,283 polluting units have been sealed or closed after a survey of 11,271 units. An AI-enabled Command and Control Centre will become fully operational on October 1, backed by 334 enforcement teams working in two shifts. Residents can report pollution complaints through the Green Delhi App and send suggestions via a dedicated portal.
The plan lays out detailed obligations for several agencies, though its effectiveness will depend on how consistently the measures are enforced on the ground.