New Delhi: With air quality remaining in the ‘severe’ category, a fresh set of anti-pollution measures has come into force in the national capital from Thursday, adding to the Stage IV restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan.

The Delhi government has directed offices to shift to a hybrid work model, restricted the movement of polluting vehicles, and enforced stricter checks at petrol pumps as part of its response to the deteriorating Air Quality Index, which has stayed in the ‘severe’ range for three consecutive days since December 13.

Labour minister Kapil Mishra announced that all government and private offices must implement work from home arrangements or face action. Under the order, private offices operating within the National Capital Territory of Delhi must ensure that not more than 50 per cent of employees attend the workplace physically, with the rest required to work from home.

The work from home mandate does not apply to emergency and frontline workers. This includes staff in hospitals, departments involved in pollution control, fire services and other essential services. Public and private health services, transport and sanitation services have also been exempted.

Construction activity has been curtailed under GRAP IV, and construction workers affected by the restrictions will be compensated. Kapil Mishra said that workers will receive ₹10,000 for the period during which GRAP IV remains in force, adding that the registration process for compensation is currently underway.

Alongside workplace restrictions, enforcement against polluting vehicles has been stepped up. Environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that from Thursday, vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control certificate will not be provided fuel at petrol pumps.

PUC certificates are issued after an emission check at authorised centres across the capital. The certificate costs ₹60 for two and three-wheelers, ₹80 for four-wheelers, and ₹100 for diesel vehicles. It remains valid for 12 months for Bharat Stage IV and Bharat Stage VI compliant vehicles.

Restrictions have also been imposed on the entry of vehicles carrying construction material. “Trucks carrying construction materials into Delhi have also been banned… I appeal to people coming from outside Delhi to bring vehicles that comply with Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) emission standards,” Manjinder Singh Sirsa told ANI.

In addition, vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-6 emission standards will not be allowed to enter the city while GRAP Stage III and IV measures are in place. The ban has taken effect from Thursday.

The decision follows an emergency meeting held on December 13 by the Sub-Committee of the Graded Response Action Plan of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and adjoining areas, after AQI levels entered the ‘severe’ category. Stage IV of GRAP was invoked with immediate effect.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court ended protection against coercive action for BS-3 and below vehicles in the capital. The Delhi Traffic Police and transport department enforcement teams have been deployed at petrol pumps and city borders to ensure compliance with the new measures.

The Delhi government has also announced plans to roll out a dedicated carpooling app, aimed at reducing the number of private vehicles on the road and easing vehicular pollution.

BI Bureau