Delhi Government Mandates โฃHybrid Work Model for Private Offices Amidstโฃ Worsening Air Quality
New โฃDelhi: In response to persistently “very poor” air quality, the Delhi government has โdirected private offices to shift to a hybrid work model, โขallowing a maximum of 50% of staffโ to โwork on-site. The remaining employees are to work remotely, effective immediately. This measure is being implementedโ as part โขof Stage III of theโ Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), following guidance from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) stood atโค 370 on Saturday,โ marking the ninth consecutive day of “very poor” air quality as measured by the Central Pollution Control Board. Eleven monitoring stationsโฃ across the city recorded readingsโ in the “severe” category.
The โขgovernment advisory requiresโ private offices โto widely communicate these guidelines and ensure their implementation across all branches.
GRAP is a multi-tiered system designed to address air pollution in โคthe Delhi-NCR region, with restrictions escalating based on AQI โlevels.Stage I is โactivated when the AQI ranges from 201-300,โข Stage II from โ301-400,โฃ and Stage III, currently in effect, when the โฃAQI is between 401-450. Stage IV is triggered when the AQI exceeds 451.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa stated the government is taking GRAP โStage IIIโค measures “with full seriousness and round-the-clock monitoring,” with a particular โขfocus on protectingโข vulnerable populations.
Along with the private office directive, the government has already implemented staggered office timings โfor its ownโ departments andโ those under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) until February 2025, aiming to reduce peak-hour traffic and vehicle emissions. MCD offices will operate from 8:30 am to 5 pm, while Delhi government offices will function from 10 am to 6:30 pm.
Enforcement efforts are also underway, with over 2,000 personnel conducting inspections of construction sites and polluting units. To date, over 1,200 inspections have resulted in more โthen 200 show-cause notices and 50 closure orders for violating sites.
the government is urging citizens toโข refrain from open burning of waste and biomass,โ remain vigilant about dust pollution, andโ report violations via the Green Delhi app. Minister sirsa emphasized the government’s commitment to tackling air pollution, stating, “These restrictions are part of an intensified โimplementation of pollution-control โคmeasures. Delhi โis acting with urgency and duty.”
