Delhi implements hybrid work and doubles parking fees to combat winter air pollution

The Delhi government has detailed a strict set of measures to combat winter air pollution, introducing a hybrid work mandate and doubling parking fees to reduce vehicle congestion on the roads. These directives are part of the consolidated Winter Pollution Action Plan, which will be active from November 1 to February 28. Under the new guidelines, government and private establishments must ensure that 50 per cent of their staff work from home, while the remaining half report to the office. To further stagger commuter traffic, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) will operate from 8:30 am to 5 pm, while other Delhi government offices will shift their timings to 10 am to 6:30 pm. To discourage private vehicle use, parking charges at authorised sites will double starting November 1. However, parking facilities managed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) are exempt from this hike. Additionally, vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards will be barred from entering the city between November 1 and January 31, excluding electric and CNG vehicles.