New Delhi: The Delhi government has decided to change office timings for its employees and those of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) due to worsening air pollution in the national capital. This action has been taken to reduce traffic congestion and pollution during peak hours.
Currently, Delhi government offices operate from 9:30 am to 6:00 pm, while MCD offices’ timing is from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm. The 30 minute gap between these timings often leads to heavy traffic in the morning and evening, making the city’s air quality more poor.
The government is set to implement flexible working hours this winter to ease traffic and pollution. Under the new schedule, Delhi government offices will start from 10:00 am to 6:30 pm, and MCD offices from 8:30 am to 5:00 pm.
On Friday, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced this decision, saying that the change would help distribute traffic more evenly throughout the day, and will make the traffic smooth and reduce vehicle emissions. “The aim is to tackle pollution in a practical way while ensuring smooth functioning of government offices,” she said.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), Delhi’s air quality remains in the ‘very poor’ category. The Sameer app showed that 29 of the city’s 38 monitoring stations recorded AQI levels above 300 on Friday. Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI stood at 322, placing it firmly in the ‘red zone.’
Experts say that PM2.5 continues to be the main pollutant. The transport sector alone is expected to contribute around 15% to PM2.5 levels on Saturday and 14% on Sunday.
The air quality in neighbouring NCR cities also remains poor. Ghaziabad recorded an AQI of 314, while Noida stood at 306, both in the ‘very poor’ category. The Air Quality Early Warning System has warned that Delhi’s air may remain in this range for the next few days, urging residents to limit outdoor activities and use masks when possible.