Policy update
CAQM orders 50% office attendance and construction curbs across NCR from Nov 5 to 20
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued directions on 30 October 2026 capping physical office attendance at 50% in Delhi and five NCR districts, and halting dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction across the NCR, from 5 to 20 November 2026. The directions are preventive, timed to the usual November pollution peak.
| Issuing body | Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), under Section 12 of the CAQM Act, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Date of order | 30 October 2026 |
| Operative period | 5 November 2026 to 20 November 2026 inclusive |
| Office limit | Maximum 50% physical attendance in government and private offices; remaining staff to work from home |
| Office coverage | National Capital Territory of Delhi; Gurugram, Faridabad and Sonipat (Haryana); Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Uttar Pradesh) |
| Construction curb | Temporary halt on dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction throughout the NCR |
| Stated reason | Cut emissions before pollution normally peaks in November |
| Air quality on order day | AQI of 60 on Friday 30 October 2026, the cleanest October day since 10 October 2022, according to CPCB |
What the CAQM ordered
The CAQM issued its directions on 30 October 2026 under Section 12 of the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas Act, 2021. The order was addressed to the chief secretaries of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi. It applies from 5 November 2026 to 20 November 2026 inclusive.
The measures apply for those dates regardless of the air quality index recorded on any particular day. According to the CAQM, the intervention is anticipatory, responding to the recurring seasonal deterioration of air quality in Delhi-NCR and the need to put pollution-control measures in place on time.
Office attendance limit
Government and private offices in the National Capital Territory of Delhi and in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad and Sonipat in Haryana, and Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, may operate with up to 50% of their staff strength attending physically. The remaining staff are to work from home.
Exemptions apply to industrial establishments and essential services where such arrangements are not feasible.
Construction curbs across the NCR
The CAQM has directed a temporary halt to dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction throughout the NCR from 5 to 20 November 2026. The construction restriction covers a wider area than the office limit, extending across the entire NCR.
The curbs include linear public infrastructure such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges and power lines, unless an exemption applies.
Exempt activities
The construction halt does not cover projects related to railways, metro services, airports, inter-state bus terminals, hospitals, water supply and sanitation, and national security and defence. Projects of national importance are also outside the curbs. The CAQM said the exemptions for essential public infrastructure, national security and other critical services are intended to ensure that essential and unavoidable activities are not disrupted.
Because of these exemptions, the directions do not amount to a blanket shutdown of every construction project in the region.
Context for the order
The CAQM had already invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR on 21 October 2026, after air quality fell into the 'Poor' category. By 30 October, rain had improved conditions. The Central Pollution Control Board recorded an AQI of 60 that Friday, the cleanest October day since 10 October 2022. The CAQM's order looks ahead to the November peak rather than responding to that day's reading.
What it means for buyers, investors and the market
For home buyers with projects under construction in the NCR, the dust-control halt applies to outdoor civil work for 16 days. Reporting on the order says it is expected to affect several ongoing projects, so site schedules may shift during this window. Buyers should check with their developer for any revised timelines.
For employers and office occupiers in the six named areas, the order requires attendance planning within the 50% limit and remote working arrangements for the rest of the staff. Exempt public projects such as metro, railway and hospital builds may continue under the listed exemptions.
What happens next
The office attendance cap and the construction curbs take effect on 5 November 2026 and end after 20 November 2026. The CAQM has since issued a further order directing the Delhi government and other NCR state governments to ensure the restrictions are followed. Any extension or later order beyond 20 November 2026 would need a separate announcement.
Frequently asked questions
When do the CAQM office and construction curbs start and end?
They apply from 5 November 2026 to 20 November 2026 inclusive. The CAQM ordered them on 30 October 2026.
Which offices are covered by the 50% attendance limit?
Government and private offices in the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad and Sonipat in Haryana, and Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar in Uttar Pradesh. Industrial establishments and essential services are exempt where such arrangements are not feasible.
Does the construction halt stop all building work in the NCR?
No. The halt covers dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction. Railways, metro services, airports, inter-state bus terminals, hospitals, water supply and sanitation, national security and defence work, and projects of national importance are exempt.
Do the curbs depend on the daily air quality reading?
No. The CAQM said the measures apply on the fixed dates regardless of the AQI recorded on an individual day.
Why did the CAQM issue the order when air quality had improved?
According to the CAQM, the order is anticipatory. It aims to cut emissions before pollution normally peaks in November, given the recurring seasonal deterioration in Delhi-NCR's air quality.