Delhi Starts Winter Curbs on Vehicles, Construction and Fuel

Delhi's government has put a Winter Action Plan in place for 1 November to 28 February, the stretch of months when the Indian capital's air pollution usually worsens. Under the plan, as reported by the BBC, older and more polluting vehicles registered outside Delhi are restricted from entering the city, and vehicles without a certificate showing they meet emission standards are denied fuel.

The plan also temporarily bans demolitions and outdoor construction work that creates dust. Parking charges have been doubled to discourage private vehicle use. The government has asked offices to allow half of their employees to work from home, and it has introduced staggered office timings for its own staff.

Alongside the city plan sits the Graded Response Action Plan, known as Grap. It is overseen by the federal Commission for Air Quality Management and brings in restrictions in stages that tighten as pollution rises. Its first stage took effect in Delhi on 1 October 2026, according to The Hindu. In the week reported, the second stage was in force, restricting the use of diesel generators and the burning of coal and firewood.

The air has been poor. On 2 November, New Delhi woke to "very poor" air quality as the anti-pollution measures came into effect. India's Central Pollution Control Board also rated the city's air "very poor" in early November, and the monitoring group IQAir measured Delhi's air quality index at 215, according to Reuters reporting. Days after the plan took effect, Delhi saw grey haze and a smoky smell, and residents reported eye irritation and difficulty breathing.

Experts have welcomed the early start but said it will not be enough on its own. They have called for broader, longer-lasting measures. Parthaa Bosu, strategic adviser at the Environmental Defense Fund, said there have been positive changes in planning, but that execution remains at the same level.

Tackling pollution was one of the promises the governing Bharatiya Janata Party made during its election campaign last year.