Delhi imposes ₹68.4 lakh in fines on first day of Winter Action Plan, checks nearly 15,000 vehicles

Delhi authorities imposed penalties and environmental compensation totalling ₹68.4 lakh on the first day of the Winter Action Plan on Sunday, as enforcement agencies stepped up action against polluting vehicles and construction sites.

According to official data available until 5 pm, nearly 15,000 vehicles were checked, 1,539 were turned back at border entry points and 566 challans were issued for operating without a valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC).

The total enforcement amount included ₹56.6 lakh in penalties for PUCC violations, ₹2 lakh in fines for breaches of vehicle entry restrictions and ₹9.8 lakh in environmental compensation imposed on construction and demolition sites for failing to comply with dust-control regulations.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said enforcement teams were monitoring compliance with vehicle entry restrictions, PUCC requirements and construction dust regulations.

In a post on X, Sirsa said 14,930 vehicles had been checked, 566 challans issued for PUCC violations and 300 construction sites inspected. He urged residents to keep their pollution certificates valid and comply with vehicle entry and dust-control rules, stressing that collective efforts were necessary to improve the city's air quality.

Nearly 1,500 vehicles turned back at borders

As part of the restrictions on non-Delhi vehicles below the BS-VI emission standard, the Delhi Traffic Police and Transport Department checked 14,930 vehicles. Of these, approximately 10.31% were denied entry into the national capital.

Authorities issued 127 challans and impounded 62 vehicles during the enforcement drive. The Delhi Traffic Police collected ₹2 lakh in fines for violations of the entry restrictions.

Among the vehicles turned back were 140 light motor vehicles (LMVs), 54 light commercial vehicles (LCVs), 95 medium and heavy goods vehicles (MGVs/HGVs) and 34 buses.

A separate category comprising 1,423 two-wheelers, three-wheelers and other vehicles was also checked. Of these, 789 were turned back and 38 were impounded.

Authorities additionally checked 7,279 non-destined vehicles, of which 314 were denied entry. No challans were issued in this category.

Vehicles running on compressed natural gas (CNG), electric vehicles (EVs) and those engaged in essential services were exempted from the restrictions. A total of 740 such vehicles were verified and permitted to enter Delhi.

PUCC violations attract ₹56.6 lakh in penalties

The enforcement drive against vehicles operating without valid Pollution Under Control Certificates resulted in 566 challans and penalties totalling ₹56.6 lakh.

The Delhi Traffic Police accounted for the bulk of the action, issuing 493 challans and imposing fines of ₹49.3 lakh. The Transport Department issued the remaining 73 challans, amounting to ₹7.3 lakh.

32 construction sites found violating dust norms

Authorities also inspected 300 construction and demolition sites to check compliance with dust-control regulations. Of these, 32 were found violating the prescribed norms, attracting environmental compensation of ₹9.8 lakh.

The inspections covered 91 large construction sites with plot areas exceeding 500 square metres. Sixteen of these were found violating dust-control requirements.

Authorities issued two closure directions and four show-cause notices to the large sites, besides imposing environmental compensation of ₹4 lakh.

Among 209 smaller sites with plot areas below 500 square metres, 17 were found violating the norms. These sites were issued 15 closure directions and 15 show-cause notices, while environmental compensation of ₹5.8 lakh was imposed.

Across all 300 inspected sites, authorities issued 17 closure directions and 19 show-cause notices. No dust-control violations were reported at infrastructure projects exempted from the restrictions.

Winter Action Plan restrictions to continue until February

The restrictions under Delhi's Winter Action Plan will remain in force for varying periods between November 1 and February 28 as the government seeks to curb air pollution during the winter months.

Under the vehicle restrictions, pre-BS-VI vehicles registered outside Delhi are barred from entering the national capital until January 31. CNG vehicles, electric vehicles and those involved in essential services are exempted.

All dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction activities have also been prohibited, except for specified essential public infrastructure projects. A broader ban on construction and demolition activities, subject to certain exemptions, will remain in force from December 10 to January 20.

The government has also doubled parking fees at authorised parking facilities across Delhi until February 28 as part of efforts to discourage private vehicle use.

Additionally, government and private offices have been directed to limit physical attendance to 50% between November 1 and January 31, with the remaining employees required to work from home. Essential and emergency services have been exempted from the attendance restrictions.