Staggered Office Hours and Carpooling Mandated as Delhi-NCR Air Quality Worsens

The Government of India, in a decisive move to combat the alarming air quality in Delhi-NCR, has rolled out new directives for central government offices under Stage IV (‘Severe+’) of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The measures, announced via an official memorandum by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) on November 21, 2024, are aimed at mitigating pollution while maintaining office productivity.

Key Measures Announced

In light of the severe air pollution levels, the government has urged Ministries, Departments, and Organizations (MDOs) operating in Delhi-NCR to adopt the following steps:

1. Staggered Office Timings: To reduce congestion during peak travel hours, offices will implement staggered shifts:
   • 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM
   • 10:00 AM to 6:30 PM
2. Promotion of Carpooling and Public Transport: Employees using personal vehicles are encouraged to pool rides or switch to public transportation to curb vehicular emissions.

Balancing Productivity with Sustainability

The memorandum emphasizes that while these measures aim to reduce pollution, ministries and departments must ensure that they do not compromise the efficiency and productivity of operations. Each organization has the flexibility to tailor the implementation as per its functional needs.

Background on GRAP

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a government-mandated framework designed to address air pollution in a phased manner based on pollution levels. Stage IV, the most critical stage, is activated when air quality breaches ‘Severe+’ levels, necessitating urgent and stringent actions to protect public health.

Official Statement

The memorandum, signed by A.K. Gopal, Under Secretary to the Government of India, underscores the urgency of compliance. It calls upon all central ministries and departments in Delhi-NCR to adopt these measures immediately.

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What This Means for You

If you are a central government employee in Delhi-NCR:

• Prepare for possible changes in your daily routine with the introduction of staggered timings.
• Consider carpooling or using public transportation to contribute to the collective effort of reducing pollution.

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