Delhi Winter Pollution Plan Sets Hotspot Targets, October 10 Deadline

A high-level review of Delhi's air pollution mitigation action plan has finalised an outcome-oriented strategy for the coming winter, with Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav directing that Jan Bhagidari events be organised at the city's 37 identified hotspots by October 10.

The meeting, chaired by Yadav with Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, assessed measures already under way, progress on the ground and additional interventions needed before and during winter. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and Public Works Department Minister Pravesh Sahib Singh were present, along with senior officials from the Union ministry and the Delhi government.

Yadav called for actionable points to be identified for each hotspot and their implementation monitored closely, with public representatives visiting these locations to review mitigation measures. He also stressed coordinated action on pollution from agricultural activities, proposing a meeting with the Union Agriculture Minister and agriculture ministers of NCR states, and said action plans for NCR areas should be finalised before October 10.

Gupta said her government had taken several steps to improve air quality and underlined the need for decisions to translate into effective implementation. She sought stronger coordination among agencies, particularly in enforcement and traffic management, and greater use of technology such as cameras at construction sites. She also called for exploring technological solutions to cut emissions from cremation grounds and for awareness about electric cremation facilities, including their availability for economically weaker sections.

Key decisions

• Vehicular emissions: A city-wide 'No PUCC, No Fuel' awareness and enforcement campaign will be run at all 500 ANPR-enabled fuel stations, with action against defaulting pumps. A campaign to promote the Delhi Metro Sarthi App will be held from October 1 to 10, including download camps with resident welfare associations and public representatives. Last-mile connectivity is available at all 228 Metro stations, and the bus fleet has reached 6,840, including 5,088 e-buses.
• Hotspots: Public representatives will make regular field visits with officials, RWAs, traders and traffic police. Forty-two hotspots have been rectified so far, with eight more targeted by October. One-way traffic and decongestion trials will be undertaken at hotspots in consultation with Delhi Traffic Police, and citizens will be encouraged to flag encroachments, illegal parking and dumping points. Eight road stretches have been made signal-free, with the remaining seven targeted for completion by October 2026.
• Roads and dust: Road redevelopment will be accelerated, with 1,193 km already completed and the balance targeted by November 15. End-to-end footpath paving will focus on walkability and dust mitigation, and complaints are to be closed within 72 hours under the standard operating procedure.
• Waste burning: Deep cleaning, waste management and zero-burning measures will be intensified, including ward-level monitoring, stronger market waste collection and enforcement of the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026. Material recovery and segregation facilities have risen to 98 from 76 last year. A city-wide 'Zero Burning' pledge campaign will be held, and dedicated ward- and district-level monitoring teams will be deployed by October 15. Heating booths will be set up on a pilot basis, with special focus on unauthorised regularised colonies and JJ clusters.
• Greening: The meeting stressed survival and greening of brown areas. Delhi has achieved 71 lakh plantations and greened 433 of 434 acres of identified brown areas.
• Construction and demolition: Registration on the Malba App will be made a mandatory condition for building plan sanction. A ban on dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction activity will be in force from November 1 to January 31, with a complete ban on construction and demolition from December 10 to January 20.
• Winter protocol: Advance measures include restrictions on polluting vehicles, doubled parking charges, staggered office timings and 50 per cent work-from-home arrangements. Entry of vehicles registered outside Delhi and below BS-VI emission standards, except CNG and EV vehicles, will be restricted with effect from November 1, 2026.
• EVs and scrapping: The EV Policy 2026 will be promoted, with higher incentives for scrapping old vehicles and a mission-mode registration drive for the Parivartan Scheme. Jan Bhagidari camps will be held in October and November to expedite the drive.
• Industry: Industrial enforcement will be strengthened, an AI-enabled command and control centre operationalised, monitoring stations increased from 47 to 60, and 334 enforcement teams deployed against non-conforming polluting industries. Citizen participation, grievance redressal and daily AQI bulletins will also be stepped up.

Citizens, resident welfare associations, market associations, industries and public representatives are to be brought into the campaign as active partners, with the strategy focusing on continuous improvement and tangible relief for residents.