Delhi govt lifts ban on construction activities as air quality improves
Real Estate

Delhi govt lifts ban on construction activities as air quality improves

On Monday, Delhi Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, told the media that New Delhi lifted a ban on construction projects as air quality enhanced marginally but offices and schools will remain shut till Wednesday at least.

Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) dipped to 303 on a scale of 500, decreasing from 499 almost a week back, when a thick haze hung over the city of over 200 million people.

The present AQI levels still show very poor conditions, as per the government monitoring agencies. Air quality is gradually changing, the minister said. Labourers were meeting challenges, and that is why they have decided to resume construction work.

He said that the officials would observe construction sites to guarantee that builders follow dust-control terms fixed by the government. Rai said that Delhi would consider limiting private vehicles to driving on alternate days if severe air pollution remained to trouble India's capital.

Apart from preventing construction, the city government had closed schools and offices, letting people work from home. Rai told the media that the officials would examine the city's air quality on November 24 and then determine whether to resume schools and offices.

He additionally urged citizens to utilise public transport. Vehicular emissions added to over half of Delhi's air pollution between October 24 to November 8.

Delhi's choking air put many children in hospital with breathing difficulties, doctors told the media last week, and the government closed five power stations and extended school closures to check the crisis. Air quality declines sharply in the winter months in Delhi, frequently ranked the world's most polluted capital. Pollutants arising from transport, crop residue burning, industries, and coal-fired plants outside the city tend to get trapped as temperatures drop during winter.

Image Source

On Monday, Delhi Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, told the media that New Delhi lifted a ban on construction projects as air quality enhanced marginally but offices and schools will remain shut till Wednesday at least. Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) dipped to 303 on a scale of 500, decreasing from 499 almost a week back, when a thick haze hung over the city of over 200 million people. The present AQI levels still show very poor conditions, as per the government monitoring agencies. Air quality is gradually changing, the minister said. Labourers were meeting challenges, and that is why they have decided to resume construction work. He said that the officials would observe construction sites to guarantee that builders follow dust-control terms fixed by the government. Rai said that Delhi would consider limiting private vehicles to driving on alternate days if severe air pollution remained to trouble India's capital. Apart from preventing construction, the city government had closed schools and offices, letting people work from home. Rai told the media that the officials would examine the city's air quality on November 24 and then determine whether to resume schools and offices. He additionally urged citizens to utilise public transport. Vehicular emissions added to over half of Delhi's air pollution between October 24 to November 8. Delhi's choking air put many children in hospital with breathing difficulties, doctors told the media last week, and the government closed five power stations and extended school closures to check the crisis. Air quality declines sharply in the winter months in Delhi, frequently ranked the world's most polluted capital. Pollutants arising from transport, crop residue burning, industries, and coal-fired plants outside the city tend to get trapped as temperatures drop during winter. Image Source

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

India to Form Consortium, Launch Bharat Shipping Line to Boost Trade Ties

India plans to establish a consortium involving equity participation by public sector enterprises to bid for operating overseas port asset. The stakeholders in this entity, tentatively named Bharat Global, will include the Indian Port Rail & Ropeway Corporation, Sagarmala Development Company, and the Shipping Corporation of India (SCI). A senior official remarked, “The consortium will replicate the Chabahar port model in other strategic locations.” India also plans to operationalise Bharat Container Shipping Line as a vertical within SCI to mitigate global trade disruptions. The move ali..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

ISTS-TBCB Projects Award Rs1 Trillion in 9MFY25

India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) has maintained a Stable rating outlook for transmission projects for FY26, supported by consistent regulations and expectations of steady operational performance. The agency highlighted significant capital expenditure plans and project awards during the first nine months of FY25 as major positives for the sector. Among 58 commissioned projects, only eight were completed on schedule, while the rest experienced an average delay of nine months. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission (CERC) has been granting time extensions for delays caused by force ma..

Next Story
Infrastructure Energy

NTPC Group Reaches 350 BU Mark in 295 Days, 11 Days Before FY24

NTPC Group has set a new record in power generation, achieving 350 Billion Units (BU) of electricity production in the financial year 2024-25. This milestone was reached on January 20, 2025, marking the fastest accomplishment of this scale in the company’s history. It was achieved in just 295 days, which is 11 days earlier than the same milestone achieved in the previous financial year on January 31, 2024. The company boasts an installed capacity of 76.5 GW and has 29.5 GW of capacity under construction. This includes 9.6 GW of renewable energy projects, highlighting NTPC's focus on clean e..

Hi There!

"Now get regular updates from CW Magazine on WhatsApp!

Join the CW WhatsApp channel for the latest news, industry events, expert insights, and project updates from the construction and infrastructure industry.

Click the link below to join"

+91 81086 03000