The Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi have announced a phased schedule for offices as part of efforts to reduce air pollution amid alarming levels of air quality in the national capital. The solution will help distribute the traffic load evenly during peak hours, reducing air pollution.
The deadlines were announced by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday, who confirmed that the new deadlines will come into effect from November 15, 2025 to February 15, 2026.
New terms and rationale
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The government explained that the existing minimum gap of 30 minutes between the opening and closing time of Delhi government offices and MCDs causes heavy traffic during morning and evening peak hours, further worsening air quality. The new timings make a significant difference in mitigating this problem.
In view of severe air pollution and the need to reduce road congestion, the Delhi government has announced winter working hours for its offices and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) from November 15, 2025 to February 15, 2026.
In the new schedule, Delhi government offices are shifted from the current 9:30 am to 6:00 pm to a later start and end time of 10:00 am to 6:30 pm.
In contrast, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) offices will now open earlier, shifting from the current schedule of 9:00 am to 5:30 pm to 8:30 am to 5:00 pm. This change is intended to increase the time gap between the peak travel periods of the two large groups of employees, thereby spreading the transport load more evenly.
Air quality remains ‘very poor’
The urgency of the government’s decision is reinforced by the severe air pollution data recorded in the city and the National Capital Region (NCR).
Violation of AQI: At 4 pm on Friday, Delhi recorded an AQI of 322 – the 24-hour average – and entered the “very poor” or red zone category.
Monitoring data: According to CPCB’s Sameer Program data, 29 out of 38 monitoring stations in the city recorded readings above the danger mark of 300.
A key pollutant: PM2.5 remains the main pollutant, with the transport sector alone estimated to contribute nearly 15% of these fine particulate matter levels over the weekend.
NCR status: The situation in the surrounding regions also remains grim, with Ghaziabad recording an AQI of 314 and Noida at 306, both firmly in the ‘very poor’ category.
The Air Quality Early Warning System has warned that severe air quality conditions are likely to persist in the coming days.
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