Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced a complete ban on construction activities from December 10 this year to January 20 next year across Delhi, as part of measures to curb air pollution during winter months.
Notably, the ban was imposed last year too under the graded response action plan (Grap), however, construction activities continued to take place despite restrictions.
In a post on X, Gupta said construction sites larger than 500 square metres would be monitored through Delhi government’s dust monitoring portal and AI-enabled cameras during the ban period. She also urged residents to report violations to the authorities.
“Construction will be completely banned from December 10 to January 20. If you spot any violation, inform MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), your MLA, or me directly. Last time, even under Grap, some construction continued behind covers,” Gupta wrote in the post.
The Winter Pollution Master Plan notified by the government on July 1 also mentions that the construction ban will remain in force, irrespective of the Grap restrictions at the time. Additionally, the plan also mentions that all dust generating demolition activities will be banned from November 1 to January 31.
According to Gupta, the government will use real-time monitoring to identify such violations this year. Alerts generated through the dust portal and AI-enabled cameras will be sent to the government’s command and control centre for further action.
The system monitors construction sites measuring 500 square yards or more and generates yellow, orange and red alerts based on pollution levels. It also enables digital issuance of compliance certificates and enforcement notices in case of violations. The upgraded portal provides district-wise dashboards, pollution trend data and hotspot analysis. Officials and project proponents can also remotely monitor sites through live camera feeds, sensor readings and AI-generated analysis.
Snehil Sinha is an Assistant Editor with the Delhi Metro bureau of Hindustan Times, where she reports on politics, governance, public policy, urban infrastructure and transport, subjects that shape the everyday lives of millions in the national capital. Over a journalism career spanning 14 years, she has built a reputation for meticulous, data-driven reporting that combines on-ground perspectives with policy analysis. She began her career with The Indian Express before joining Hindustan Times, where she has reported extensively on civic administration and urban governance in Gurugram, Noida and now Delhi. Her reporting is distinguished by its clarity, depth and balance. Whether covering large-scale infrastructure projects, environmental challenges, transport reforms or government policy, she tries to translate complex administrative decisions into accessible, engaging stories without losing nuance. Her work reflects a strong command of public records, official data and field reporting, often connecting policy announcements with their impact on citizens. Her stories go beyond headlines to explain how governance decisions influence the city's growth, mobility and quality of life, making her work an important contribution to informed public discourse.Read More
