Delhi Limits Office Staff To 50%, Rest To Work From Home Amid Rising Air Pollution

New Delhi: The Delhi government announced on Monday that all government departments and private companies operating in the national capital must keep at most half of their employees on site, with the rest working from home. The decision to limit the office staff comes amidst a sharp rise in air pollution and violent protests in Delhi on Monday. According to the officials, the government's decision is part of the third level of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP‑3), which was activated by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to try to bring the choking smog under control.

The Delhi government, in a statement on Monday, explained that administrative secretaries and heads of departments are expected to be present in the office on a regular basis, but they must not exceed a 50 % physical‑presence limit. “All administrative secretaries and heads of departments will attend office regularly, with not more than 50 per cent of staff strength physically present in the office. The remaining will work from home,” the order read. The same rule applies to private offices within Delhi’s borders, where they may have no more than half of their workforce on the premises at any time, while the rest are required to work from home (WFH).

Delhi Witnesses GRAP 3 As Air Quality Deteriorates

For the past few weeks, the air‑quality monitors have been flashing red, with fine particulate matter, both PM2.5 and PM10, surging above the limits set for a healthy winter. Since mid‑October, the Delhi administration has been moving through the successive stages of GRAP after directives from the CAQM.

The instruction of limiting the presence at various offices means that all offices run by the Delhi government as well as the private firms, must ensure that at most half of their staff are physically present at any one time. The administrative secretaries and heads of department may call in extra personnel only when essential services or emergency functions demand it.

The private offices are subject to the same 50% ceiling, with the remaining employees required to stay home. The directive also tells employers to introduce staggered working hours, tighten the enforcement of remote‑working arrangements and cut down on the number of cars that travel to and from the office, a major source of the city’s emissions during severe pollution.

The fresh curbs follow recent amendments to the GRAP schedule. The shift was confirmed just days after Delhi’s Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena gave the green light for staggered office timings for both GNCTD and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) bodies, hoping to ease peak‑hour traffic and the associated vehicular pollution that fuels the haze.

However, the essential services have been carved out of the restriction, which included hospitals, health establishments, fire brigades, prisons, public‑transport operators, electricity and water utilities, sanitation departments, disaster‑management units and agencies that enforce pollution control are all exempt from the 50% cap.

The new rule is in force immediately and will stay in place for the entire duration of GRAP Stage III. The district magistrates, deputy commissioners of police and local administration have been tasked with ensuring compliance across the board. Anyone who flouts the order faces penalties under relevant sections, which can include hefty fines and even imprisonment.

Amidst a severe concern over a rapid increase in the pollution level, the directive takes effect immediately, reflecting growing concern over the thick haze that has blanketed the city in recent weeks.

The doctors have warned that prolonged exposure to polluted air can aggravate respiratory conditions, and schools have been asked to limit outdoor activities.