Authorities have enforced the strictest level of emergency measures, including a 50% office attendance cap and a total ban on older vehicles, as the capital battles “severe plus” pollution levels.
The Delhi government has mandated that all government and private offices operate at half capacity starting Thursday (18 December) to fight the city’s hazardous air quality. The order, which forces 50% of the workforce to work from home, comes with a new ban on non-BS VI (Bharat Stage 6) vehicles entering the city. That move has left hundreds of thousands of commuters across the National Capital Region stranded.
The measures were announced Wednesday by Cabinet Minister Kapil Mishra and Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa as the region’s Air Quality Index surged past 450, hitting “Severe Plus” levels. Under Stage 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan, these restrictions are now in effect:
- Office Attendance: All private and government institutions must ensure 50% of staff work from home. Essential services like hospitals, fire departments, and public transport are exempt.
- Vehicle Ban: Only vehicles meeting BS-VI emission standards, electric vehicles, and CNG cars can enter Delhi. Petrol and diesel cars with BS-III and BS-IV ratings are strictly banned.
- Fuel Restrictions: In an unprecedented move, petrol pumps in Delhi will refuse to fuel any vehicle that doesn’t have a valid Pollution Under Control certificate.
- Worker Relief: The government announced compensation of ₹10,000 for all registered construction workers affected by the 16-day suspension of building activities.
The crisis has also brought back hybrid schooling for most grades, as thick toxic smog reduces visibility to as low as 700 meters in parts of the city.
“From Thursday, all government and private institutions must ensure 50% of their workforce is working from home. Strict action will be taken against violators,” Minister Kapil Mishra said, emphasizing the move is necessary to reduce the number of vehicles on the road.
Commuters from neighboring Gurgaon and Noida are calling the move “abrupt.” “Lakhs of people travel to Delhi daily. This order will obstruct the free movement of people who have no alternative,” said one resident stuck in traffic at the border.
Pollution in Delhi is an annual winter emergency triggered by a combination of cold, dense air, vehicle emissions, and crop residue burning in neighboring states. Earlier this week, some stations recorded AQI levels as high as 644. The enforcement of GRAP Stage 4 is the government’s “last resort” to prevent a total public health collapse.
Meteorologists warn that while wind speeds have picked up slightly, visibility will remain poor for the rest of the week. The 50% work-from-home mandate will stay in place until further notice, with traffic police deployed at all 13 border entry points to seize non-compliant vehicles.
Also Read / Delhi Air Pollution Crisis: Causes, Government Measures, and Steps Citizens Can Take in 2025.
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