Delhi winter action plan bars non-BS6 vehicles from outside starting November 1

Vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards will be banned from entering the capital from November 1, as part of a comprehensive Winter Action Plan designed to curb urban air pollution and safeguard public health. The administrative measures, announced by the Delhi government, will remain in force through February 28 to maintain environmental stability across the city.

Under the centrepiece enforcement drive, fuel stations throughout the national capital will strictly implement a 'No PUC, No Fuel' policy. Motorists without a valid Pollution Under Control certificate will be barred from purchasing petrol, diesel, CNG, or LPG. To ensure smooth transit and ease commuter dependency on private vehicles, public transport services are being augmented with additional electric buses, higher Metro trip frequencies, and strengthened last-mile connectivity.

Key measures under the Delhi winter action plan

To tackle construction dust, the administration is deploying advanced technology across the city. Construction and demolition activities face strict operational controls, with sites monitored around the clock through artificial intelligence-enabled cameras linked directly to the government's central control and command centre. The Delhi Pollution Control Committee has stepped up field inspections, issuing show-cause notices to agencies failing to meet dust suppression standards.

Field monitoring has already intensified across designated hotspots. Municipal Corporation of Delhi officials and Urban Development Secretary Vivek Pandey conducted joint inspections in South Zone areas to inspect ground-level measures. In a major infrastructure upgrade, the Delhi Cabinet approved the expansion of mechanised road sweeping across 609 kilometres of roads with a right of way under 10 metres, covering 854 roads across 250 wards.

For long-term environmental management, the Cabinet approved a five-year research partnership with IIT Delhi to track and analyse the real-time sources of PM2.5 and PM10 pollution, measuring contributions from vehicular exhaust, road dust, and biomass burning. The government has also advised offices to adopt a 50 per cent work-from-home policy, with contingency preparations in place to shift schools to hybrid or online learning if pollution levels worsen.