Delhi-NCR to see 50% work from home and construction curbs from November 5

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has directed government and private offices in Delhi and five National Capital Region (NCR) districts to operate with no more than 50 per cent of their staff attending physically from November 5 to 20 as part of preventive measures to control air pollution.

The remaining employees will be required to work from home under the directions issued by the commission.

The order, dated October 30, applies to the National Capital Territory of Delhi and the NCR districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Industrial establishments and essential services where such an arrangement is not feasible have been exempted.

The commission has also restricted dust-generating demolition and outdoor construction activities across the entire NCR during the same period.

The restrictions cover infrastructure works, including highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission lines, pipelines and telecommunications projects.

However, exemptions have been provided for projects related to railways, Metro services, airports, inter-state bus terminals, hospitals, water supply and sanitation, national security and defence activities, as well as projects of national importance.

The directions have been issued under Section 12 of the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021.

Explaining the decision, CAQM referred to its assessment of daily Air Quality Index data for November between 2018 and 2025, which showed a recurring pattern of elevated pollution levels in Delhi-NCR, particularly during early and mid-November.

The commission noted that local emissions, agricultural residue burning and unfavourable meteorological conditions contribute to the seasonal deterioration in air quality.

It said the restrictions were preventive measures intended to reduce emissions at source and limit the accumulation of pollutants during the region’s peak pollution period.

The directions will affect several construction and infrastructure activities across NCR, although essential public infrastructure projects falling under the specified exemptions can continue.