Stepping up the fight against pollution, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday unveiled an aggressive and wide-ranging strategy to combat air pollution in the national capital, signalling a shift from intent to enforcement.
Announcing the roll-out of the Air Pollution Mitigation Action Plan 2026, Gupta said the initiative builds on the government’s ‘historic’ Green Budget for 2026-27, and aims to translate clean air goals into measurable outcomes.
According to the CM, the plan, prepared under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance, lays out a structured roadmap for sustainable urban development, with a strong emphasis on accountability, technology and time-bound execution.
Presiding over a review meeting on the effective control of pollution at the ‘Mukhyamantri Janseva Sadan’ on Friday, the CM reiterated that clean air and environmental protection are now central to the government’s policy framework, backed by dedicated budgetary allocations for clean mobility, dust control, waste management, and pollution monitoring.
The action plan targets key sources of pollution, including vehicular emissions, road dust, construction activity, industrial discharge and biomass burning. It also identifies 11 priority sectors, each with clearly defined responsibilities.
The CM said there would be zero tolerance for violations, with the ‘No PUC, No Fuel’ rule to be strictly enforced with the help of ANPR cameras and digital tracking systems.
She said that from November 1 this year, entry of goods vehicles into Delhi will be restricted to those compliant with BS-VI norms or powered by CNG or electricity.
Non-essential traffic inflow will also be regulated, and in periods of severe pollution, the government may consider staggered office timings, work-from-home directives and additional restrictions on polluting vehicles for immediate relief.
Notably, the government is ramping up investment in public transport, with a target to expand the bus fleet to 13,760 by 2028-29, prioritising e-buses.
Around 32,000 EV charging points will be installed over the next four years, and the upcoming EV Policy 2026 will focus on two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, alongside transitioning government fleets to cleaner fuels.
Efforts are on to ease traffic congestion at the 62 identified hotspots through time-bound interventions, and a citywide Intelligent Traffic Management System is also being rolled out.
Nearly 3,500 km of roads are being redeveloped with paved surfaces, green buffers and utility ducts. A scientific road asset management system, along with pothole repairs, aims to eliminate dust at the source.
Construction-related pollution will be tracked through a technology-driven system, with an AI-enabled C&D Portal 2.0 facilitating monitoring and automated enforcement.
Industrial units are now required to install online emission monitoring systems, with strict enforcement of environmental norms. Those failing to comply will face punitive action without exception.
Ward-level ‘Vayu Rakshak’ teams will be deployed, while the 311 platform will be upgraded to enhance citizen reporting and participation.
The government has set a target of planting 70 lakh trees, shrubs and bamboo in 2026-27, with a long-term goal of over one crore plantations.