New Delhi

The Delhi government has introduced a comprehensive Proactive Winter Air Quality Management Framework aimed at reducing pollution levels during the capital's most challenging months.

Announcing the measures, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi and not compliant with BS-VI emission norms will be barred from entering the city between November 1, 2026, and January 31, 2027.

However, exemptions will be granted to CNG-powered vehicles, electric vehicles, emergency service vehicles and those engaged in government-related duties.

As part of the anti-pollution strategy, the government has also mandated that only vehicles carrying a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC) will be permitted to purchase fuel from petrol stations in Delhi. Authorities are yet to clarify the duration for which this restriction will remain in force.

To discourage excessive use of private vehicles and ease congestion during winter, parking charges at authorised parking facilities across the city will be doubled from November 1, 2026, to February 28, 2027.

The framework also includes several additional measures, such as staggered office timings, stricter controls on construction-related dust, a ban on open burning of garbage and biomass, and advance planning to tackle seasonal pollution hotspots.

Gupta said the government had chosen to notify the measures several months before winter so that residents, businesses and transport operators could prepare in advance and avoid last-minute disruptions.

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The initiative forms part of Delhi's broader effort to curb the severe air quality deterioration that typically accompanies the winter season.