'No fuel, no PUC' rule, 50% WFH: Delhi unveils annual winter pollution plan

Summary

The Delhi government on Wednesday unveiled a permanent winter pollution master plan that will automatically come into force every year from November 1 to February 28. The framework includes 50 per cent work-from-home for offices, a ban on dust-generating construction and demolition activities, denial of fuel to vehicles without a valid PUC certificate, double-parking charges, and curbs on polluting vehicles to combat the capital's recurring winter air pollution crisis. The government said the move replaces the need for repeated seasonal notifications and creates a predictable framework for pollution-control measures during the months when Delhi 's air quality typically deteriorates sharply in the winter months. One of the key measures under the winter pollution action plan is a year-round restriction on fuel supply to vehicles without a valid Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificate. The rule will apply at petrol pumps, CNG stations and LPG outlets across Delhi. The announcement came after the Delhi Cabinet on Monday approved the new Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy, under which electric cars priced up to Rs 30 lakh will be exempt from road tax and registration fees. The policy also mandates that only electric autorickshaws will be registered from January 1, 2027. Under the EV policy, the registration of new petrol and CNG-powered two-wheelers will be phased out in favour of electric models from April 1, 2028, as the government seeks to promote cleaner transport and curb air pollution in the national capital. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the policy would reduce uncertainty associated with varying restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) while ensuring timely and uniform implementation of anti-pollution measures. The government said the permanent framework incorporates revised GRAP provisions, directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management and orders issued by the Supreme Court, creating a single rulebook for Delhi's winter pollution response.