Chief minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced the rollout of the Air Pollution Mitigation Action Plan 2026, positioning it as a shift towards measurable, outcome-driven clean air governance. However, even as the government outlined an ambitious multi-sector strategy, experts cautioned that without strong enforcement, tangible targets, and long-term consistency, the plan risks repeating the shortcomings of previous efforts.
Gupta held a review meeting and stressed that clean air and environmental protection are now central to the government’s policy framework, backed by dedicated budgetary allocations for clean mobility, dust control, waste management, greening, and pollution monitoring.
The action plan released on Friday focuses on key sources of pollution – vehicular emissions, road dust, construction activity, industrial discharge, and biomass burning – through a scientific, data-driven approach, the government said. It identifies 11 priority sectors with clearly defined responsibilities, timelines, and real-time monitoring mechanisms to ensure compliance.
Gupta stressed that the government has a “zero-tolerance” policy towards polluting vehicles. She said the “No PUC, No Fuel” rule is being strictly enforced, supported by cameras that automatically detect number plates.
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Expanded bus fleet, restrictions to vehicles entry
From November 1, entry of goods vehicles into Delhi will be restricted to those compliant with BS-VI norms or powered by CNG or electricity. Non-essential traffic inflow will also be regulated. In periods of severe pollution, the government may consider staggered office timings, work-from-home directives, and additional restrictions on polluting vehicles for immediate relief.
The government has set a target to expand the bus fleet to 13,760 by 2028-29, prioritising electric buses. Integration of metro and RRTS networks with feeder buses, e-autos, and shared mobility services is expected to improve last-mile connectivity and reduce dependence on private vehicles. To accelerate electric mobility, 32,000 EV charging points will be installed over the next four years. The upcoming EV Policy 2026 will focus on two-wheelers and commercial vehicles, alongside transitioning government fleets to cleaner fuels.
To mitigate dust pollution, the government is deploying mechanical road sweepers, water sprinklers, and anti-smog guns on a large scale. Mist spray systems are being installed across roads and mandated for large buildings. Nearly 3,500 km of roads are being redeveloped with paved surfaces, green buffers, and utility ducts. A scientific road asset management system and time-bound pothole repair mechanism aim to eliminate dust at the source and improve durability.
The government has set firm deadlines to eliminate legacy landfill sites—Okhla by July 2026, Bhalswa by December 2026, and Ghazipur by December 2027.
The air quality monitoring network is being expanded alongside the creation of a centralised Green War Room and an Integrated Command and Control Centre. Ward-level “Vayu Rakshak” teams will be deployed, while the 311 platform will be upgraded to enhance citizen reporting The government has also set a target of planting 7 million trees, shrubs, and bamboo in 2026-27, with a long-term goal of over 10 million plantations.
Experts sceptical
Despite the government’s ambitious announcements, experts expressed concern that the plan largely repeats old measures.
Dipankar Saha, former head of CPCB’s air laboratory, said, “We have already seen enough plans over the years. What this plan needs is tangible targets and the government needs to monitor the base emission load and quantify the possible reduction in terms of emissions. Year-on-year, we need to target a reduction.”
Sunil Dahiya, founder and lead analyst at Envirocatalysts, said while the full plan is not yet in the public domain and will have to be assessed, implementation remains the key – which has been lacking in previous years. “We have plenty of plans but we suffer from poor implementation every time.”
Anumita Roychowdhury, executive director of research and advocacy at the Centre for Science and Environment, said the government needs to have a report card on the targets it has set. “What we are looking for now are actual implementation measures, not just announcements. What happens to their seasonal plans? These tend to be immediate, reactive responses.”
Aarti Khosla, director at the think-tank Climate Trends, said the plan largely appears to have similar measures as last year’s plan. “Broadly, there is not much that is new here. However, the fact that they’re looking to plan for pollution in advance – ahead of winter – is important and we need year-round focus on air pollution.”
When questioned on how this plan broadly differed from the air pollution mitigation action plan released last year, environment minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the goal was to consolidate on last year’s measures while adding focus on innovation and industrial areas. “We want to implement and enforce last year’s measures on ground for sustained action. We know the sources of pollution already. What is new is innovation and technology, which we are looking at currently as part of the government’s innovation challenge. Additionally, we are laying down roads in industrial areas which were previously non-conforming but are being made into conforming area,” Sirsa told HT.