New Delhi: The Delhi government has announced a Winter Action Plan to tackle air pollution in the national capital, with measures scheduled to be implemented from November 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027.
The plan includes stricter checks on vehicle emissions, restrictions on certain vehicles registered outside Delhi, dust-control measures at construction sites and steps to encourage public transport and work-from-home arrangements.
The initiative has been prepared under the leadership of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, according to a government release. Its stated objective is to reduce pollution during the winter months, when deteriorating air quality is a recurring concern in the national capital.
What Is The ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ Policy?
One of the key measures is the implementation of the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ policy. Under this rule, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will not be eligible to purchase fuel at petrol pumps.
The restriction covers petrol, diesel, CNG and LPG, as specified in the announcement. The measure is intended to encourage vehicle owners to maintain valid emissions certification and ensure greater compliance with pollution-control requirements.
The plan also announces restrictions on vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards. Such vehicles will not be allowed to enter the national capital under the stated policy.
The implementation of these measures will be important during the winter period, when vehicle emissions are among the sources that authorities seek to control.
AI Cameras To Monitor Construction Sites
Dust from construction and demolition activities is another focus of the action plan. The government has announced restrictions on construction work, demolition and the transportation of construction materials as part of its dust-control efforts.
Construction sites will be monitored using artificial intelligence-enabled cameras connected directly to the government’s control and command centre. The system is intended to help authorities monitor compliance and identify violations.
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has also stepped up inspections at construction sites ahead of winter. According to the government release, show-cause notices have been issued to agencies where violations were detected.
Separately, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, along with GNCTD Urban Development Secretary Vivek Pandey, conducted a joint inspection of pollution hotspots and construction sites in South Zone areas on October 11. Officials assessed local pollution conditions and reviewed measures being taken by government agencies before the winter season.
Mechanised Sweeping Planned For 854 Roads
The government has also approved an expansion of mechanised road sweeping to areas where the facility is not currently available.
According to the Cabinet, the plan covers approximately 609 kilometres of roads with a right of way of less than 10 metres. A total of 854 roads across 250 municipal wards have been identified for the exercise.
Mechanised sweeping is intended to help control the dust generated by road surfaces and traffic. Its impact will depend on implementation, coverage and the frequency of cleaning.
IIT Delhi To Study PM2.5 And PM10 Sources
To improve pollution monitoring, the Cabinet has approved a five-year collaboration with IIT Delhi to continuously track and analyse the sources of particulate pollution.
The proposed system will examine the contribution of major sources, including vehicular emissions, road dust and biomass burning, to PM2.5 and PM10 levels. It will also provide data on how the contribution of these sources changes throughout the day.
The findings are expected to give authorities a more detailed picture of pollution patterns and help inform future control measures.
Work From Home And Public Transport Push
The Winter Action Plan also emphasises a 50 per cent work-from-home arrangement, alongside the promotion of electric buses, Metro services and last-mile connectivity.
These measures are intended to encourage alternatives to private vehicle use and reduce the pressure of road traffic. The announcement, however, does not provide further details on the scope or applicability of the work-from-home provision.
The plan brings together transport-related measures, construction-site enforcement, road cleaning and pollution-source analysis. Its effectiveness will depend on how consistently the measures are enforced and whether the resulting data leads to targeted action during the winter pollution season.
