The Delhi government has announced a phased set of restrictions on construction and demolition activities in the capital from November 1, 2026, as part of its measures to tackle winter air pollution.
Dust-generating work to be restricted from November 1
From November 1, dust-generating demolition work and outdoor civil construction activities will be prohibited until January 31, 2027. The broader restriction will cover a three-month period during the winter pollution season.
The government’s permanent Winter Pollution Master Plan, which comes into force every year from November 1 to February 28, includes pre-planned curbs on construction, vehicle emissions and open waste burning.
Essential public infrastructure projects are exempt from the November 1 to January 31 restriction, while finishing, plumbing and electrical work can continue within construction sites subject to dust-control and construction and demolition waste management norms.
Complete construction ban from December 10
The restrictions will become more stringent from December 10, when a complete ban on construction and demolition activities will come into force.
The complete prohibition will remain in place until January 20, 2027. During this period, only urgent government projects of importance affecting public convenience and emergency works will be permitted, according to the framework.
Vehicles carrying construction materials, including sand, aggregates, stone, bricks, cement, ready-mix concrete and debris, will also be barred from entering Delhi during the December 10 to January 20 period.
AI monitoring to track construction sites
The government has also announced tighter monitoring to enforce the winter construction curbs. Construction sites measuring more than 500 square metres are to be monitored through the Delhi government's Dust Portal and AI-enabled cameras.
The AI-powered Dust Portal 2.0 uses GIS mapping, live 360-degree PTZ cameras, particulate matter sensors and AI-based analytics to monitor compliance at construction sites. It can generate alerts based on pollution levels and facilitate digital compliance certificates and enforcement notices.
The measures form part of Delhi's permanent winter pollution framework, which replaces separate seasonal orders with a fixed set of measures. The framework also provides for other steps, including restrictions on polluting vehicles, higher parking charges and work-from-home arrangements during the winter months.