New restrictions kick in as Delhi battles pollution in winter

The restrictions, which came into force on Sunday (Nov 1), include a doubling of vehicle parking charges and work-from-home arrangements aimed at cutting traffic emissions.

Vehicles account for around 23 per cent of Delhi’s winter pollution. REUTERS/Adnan Abidi/File Photo 01 Nov 2026 04:44PM Bookmark Bookmark Share WhatsApp Telegram Facebook Twitter Email LinkedIn Set CNA as your preferred source on Google Add CNA as a trusted source to help Google better understand and surface our content in search results. Read a summary of this article on FAST. Get bite-sized news via a newcards interface. Give it a try. Click here to return to FAST Tap here to return to FAST FAST NEW DELHI: The authorities in New Delhi have stepped up anti-pollution measures, including higher parking fees and work-from-home orders, seeking to curb toxic smog in one of the world’s most polluted capitals.

The restrictions, which came into force on Sunday (Nov 1), include a doubling of vehicle parking charges and work-from-home arrangements for government and private-sector offices aimed at cutting traffic emissions.

The authorities will also bar vehicles that do not comply with mandated emission standards from entering the capital, while a ban on all dust-generating demolition and outdoor construction activity takes effect immediately.

“From Nov 1... Delhi’s Winter Action Plan comes into effect with stricter pollution controls, stronger enforcement and 24×7 monitoring,” Chief Minister Rekha Gupta’s office said in a statement.

CNA Games Guess Word Crack the word, one row at a time Buzzword Create words using the given letters Mini Sudoku Tiny puzzle, mighty brain teaser Mini Crossword Small grid, big challenge Word Search Spot as many words as you can Show More Show Less “We humbly request all Delhiites to follow the guidelines and contribute towards making Delhi’s air cleaner and healthier.”

Delhi’s government has already rolled out a range of pollution-control measures over the past month, including a ban on rubbish burning and restrictions on food stalls using coal or firewood.

But similar efforts in previous years have done little to prevent the annual smog that engulfs the megacity from November to January, when cooler temperatures trap pollutants close to the ground.

Major sources of pollution include vehicle emissions, coal-fired power plants, industrial activity, construction dust and the burning of crop residue in neighbouring states.

Vehicles account for 23 per cent of Delhi’s winter pollution, while biomass burning, including farm stubble fires, contributes 20 per cent, according to India’s environment ministry.

Levels of PM2.5, tiny cancer-causing particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, frequently exceed 300mcg per cu m during peak winter months, around 20 times the World Health Organization’s recommended daily limit.

In 2025, pollution levels peaked at 846mcg per cu m, or 56 times the WHO guideline.