Central employees in Delhi to have staggered office timings as AQI worsens

To compat Delhi-NCR's alarming air pollution levels, the Central Government has brought in new directives for central government offices under Stage IV (‘Severe+’) of the revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). Announced by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) on November 21, 2024, these measures aim to mitigate pollution without disrupting productivity.

The key steps outlined in the memorandum include staggered office timings to ease traffic congestion and reduce vehicle emissions. Employees will now follow one of two shifts:

9:00 AM to 5:30 PM or

10:00 AM to 6:30 PM.

To further curb emissions, the government is encouraging employees to carpool or switch to public transportation instead of using personal vehicles.

These measures reflect the government’s commitment to balancing sustainability with efficiency. While addressing air pollution is a priority, the DoPT has emphasized that ministries and departments must ensure uninterrupted operations, tailoring the implementation of these guidelines as necessary to meet functional requirements.

Stage IV of GRAP, the most critical phase, is activated when air quality breaches ‘Severe+’ levels, demanding urgent interventions to safeguard public health. The framework, designed to address pollution in a phased manner, highlights the urgency of these actions in the face of the current environmental emergency.

The memorandum, signed by A.K. Gopal, Under Secretary to the Government of India, calls on all ministries and departments in Delhi-NCR to adopt these measures immediately. For central government employees, this means adapting to new office schedules and embracing eco-friendly commuting options like carpooling and public transport.

As Delhi-NCR continues to grapple with hazardous air quality, these steps underscore the collective effort required to combat pollution while maintaining essential government functions.