New Delhi has activated its most severe anti-pollution measures as a toxic blanket of smog continues to choke the capital. On Wednesday, the Delhi government rolled out a fresh set of stringent actions under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which came into immediate effect. The sweeping curbs include a ban on entry of certain vehicles, a denial of fuel at petrol pumps, and a mandatory work-from-home order for half of all office staff.
Stringent Vehicle Restrictions and Enforcement
Under the tightened norms, private vehicles registered outside Delhi and conforming to pollution standards below BS-VI are now barred from entering the city. The government clarified that this restriction will remain in force only as long as GRAP-IV is active, modifying an earlier directive to avoid massive disruption. In a significant parallel move, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate will not be allowed to refuel at petrol pumps starting Thursday.
To ensure compliance, authorities will station a police officer and a transport department official at each fuel station. Initially, the focus will be on awareness, with drivers being advised to update their documents. For enforcement, Delhi Traffic Police have deployed over 500 personnel and 37 Prakhar vans across 126 checkpoints, including RFID-enabled borders, to turn back non-compliant vehicles. E-challan systems will be used to instantly verify a vehicle's emission norms and registration details.
Construction Ban, Worker Relief, and Office Mandates
All construction and demolition activities remain suspended under GRAP-IV, and trucks carrying construction material are prohibited from entering Delhi. To mitigate the impact on daily-wage earners, the government announced a compensation of Rs 10,000 for registered and verified construction workers affected by the work stoppage.
In a major move affecting the workforce, the Delhi government has mandated 50% work-from-home for all government and private offices within the National Capital Territory (NCT). This order, effective from Thursday, exempts essential services such as hospitals, utilities, transport, enforcement, and disaster response. However, the directive has raised questions about practical implementation, compliance, and monitoring, particularly within the private and unorganised sectors.
Government's Strategy and Public Appeal
Delhi's Environment Minister, Manjinder Singh Sirsa, stated that the measures target pollution from four key sources: vehicles, industries, dust, and solid waste. He announced upcoming initiatives, including a Delhi-specific carpooling app, the use of Google Maps data to identify congestion hotspots, and an integrated traffic management system to reduce idling time.
Addressing citizens and petrol pump owners, Minister Sirsa appealed for cooperation, emphasising that the campaign aims to make Delhi's air breathable again. He urged every Delhiite to ensure their vehicle's PUC is updated, calling it a collective responsibility. Officials warned that air quality is likely to remain in the 'severe' category until at least December 27, and GRAP-IV enforcement will continue until pollution levels show sustained improvement. Violations of the orders are punishable under the Environment (Protection) Act.
