Due to increasing pollution in Delhi, Delhi Chief Minister Atishi stated on Friday that new working hours would be implemented for government offices in the capital to reduce pollution from vehicles. On Friday, the Chief Minister announced that the timings of government offices in Delhi will be adjusted in order to decrease traffic congestion and its related pollution. In order to decrease traffic congestion and the pollution it causes, government offices throughout Delhi will operate on varying schedules.
CM announced that Delhi Municipal Corporation office hours will be from 8:30 am to 5 pm, with central government offices open from 9 am to 5:30 pm and Delhi government offices operating from 10 am to 6:30 pm.
Air pollution is ongoing and worsening. Due to the rising levels of air pollution in Delhi, Stage-3 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been activated starting at 8 am on Friday. Many regulations aimed at controlling air pollution have disappeared. 106 more Cluster buses in the Capital Territory of Delhi will be operated as per the decision of the Delhi government. In addition to this, more subway trains will operate as well. Metro will make approximately 60 additional rounds daily.
The air quality in Delhi’s capital has been worsening for two days in a row. It has escalated to the ‘severe’ level. On Friday, the air quality index in the capital region also hit 411. This index is classified as ‘severe’. Inter-state buses are not allowed to enter Delhi, except for e-buses and CNG-run buses. In addition, the Delhi government has prohibited the use of BS 3 petrol and BS 4 diesel four-wheelers.
Meanwhile, Gopal Rai commented on the worsening air pollution in Delhi, stating that if the air quality continues to deteriorate, options such as artificial rain may be explored, and discussions with the central government about this will also take place. In Delhi, construction and demolition activities are already prohibited under the third phase of GRAP measures.