The Delhi Government has unveiled its Winter Action Plan 2025–26 to tackle the capital’s annual pollution surge. The plan focuses on stricter enforcement, cleaner roads, tighter construction controls, and citizen participation to make Delhi breathe easier this winter.
These 25 action points are spread across under seven major themes. These include road dust, vehicular emissions, industry and power, open burning, waste management, citizen interface, and innovation. The plan brings together over 30 departments, including the PWD, MCD, NDMC, DPCC, Transport Department, and Delhi Police.
Chairing a high-level review, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the government was moving with urgency. “Compliance will be non-negotiable this winter. Dust control, construction norms, and PNG-only industries will be implemented with speed,” he said. He added that the Green War Room would coordinate daily between departments and track progress in real time.
Officials said the action plan, led under the supervision of Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, focuses on tangible outcomes instead of routine announcements. “The goal is visible improvement in air quality through strict enforcement, coordination, and citizen partnership,” a senior official said.
To control dust, authorities have deployed 86 mechanical sweepers, 300 water sprinklers, and 362 anti-smog guns across the city. Another 70 sweepers are being procured to expand coverage. All major roads under the PWD, MCD, NDMC, and DSIIDC will be vacuum-swept in multiple shifts. Strict 14-point norms for construction sites remain mandatory, and all projects above 500 sqm must register online. Anti-smog guns are now compulsory for projects larger than 3,000 sqm and high-rise office buildings.
The Transport Department has placed 578 enforcement teams on the ground to check for valid PUC certificates, visible smoke, and idling vehicles. Delhi currently has 953 PUC centres, with real-time monitoring through a central dashboard. Parking fees will double when pollution levels reach GRAP Stage III or IV to discourage private vehicle use.
To promote clean mobility, DMRC’s e-auto fleet will expand to 2,299 vehicles, and electric vehicle registrations now account for 12% of all new sales. The Delhi Police and Transport Department are also enforcing Supreme Court and CAQM directives restricting entry of polluting trucks at city borders.
Officials said all industries in Delhi are now operating on PNG fuel. Joint inspections by the DPCC and DSIIDC are underway to check for unauthorised fuel use. Only compliant DG sets are allowed, with exemptions only for essential services. Industrial units in redevelopment areas must seek fresh environmental consent, and surprise checks will continue through winter.
To prevent open burning, 443 anti-burning teams are patrolling round the clock, empowered to issue on-the-spot fines. Officials said no landfill fires have been reported this year, the first time in several years. Legacy waste biomining has crossed 136 lakh tonnes, and clearance timelines have been set: Okhla by July 2026, Bhalswa by December 2026, and Ghazipur by December 2027.
Following the Supreme Court’s order dated October 15, Delhi will allow only NEERI-certified green crackers this Diwali, and that too in a limited window. Crackers can be used only on October 18 and 19, between 6–7 am and 8–10 pm, and only at licensed, designated sites. QR-coded crackers from authorised vendors are mandatory. Illegal stock will be confiscated, and violators prosecuted under the Explosives Rules and Environment Protection Act. The Delhi Police, the Revenue Department, and the DPCC will jointly enforce the rules.
The Green Delhi App has resolved over 96,000 complaints since its launch. Departments have been asked to shorten response times further. Six new air-quality monitoring stations will be operational by March 2026 to provide more granular data. The government is also planning a pilot cloud-seeding project with IIT Kanpur and IMD to test emergency particulate washout methods.
