NEW DELHI: New Delhi will ban construction for six weeks in the country`s capital, as part of a slew of measures announced on Monday to tackle the city`s air pollution.

Delhi, a sprawling megacity of 30 million people, is regularly ranked among the world`s most polluted capitals due to a mix of emissions from power plants, heavy traffic, construction activity and the burning of crop stubble.

The construction ban will run from December 10 to January 20 as part of a winter action plan which will include restrictions on vehicular traffic aimed at encouragingresidents to use public transport.

`Early implementation of these stringent measures would help prevent the city`s air from reaching hazardous levels during winter,` Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa told reporters.

A study in The Lancet Planetary Health in 2024 estimated that 3.8 million deaths in India between 2009 and 2019 were linked to air pollution.

Levels of cancer-causing PM 2.5 microparticles often hit more than 300 micrograms per cubic metre in the city, 20 times the World Health Organisation`s recommended daily maximum.Government-led initiatives such as partial restrictions on fossil fuelpowered transport and water trucks spraying mist to clear the air have failed to make a noticeable impact.

Under the new plan, Sirsa said `staggered office timings will be implemented from November 1 to February 28 to reduce peak-hour traffic congestion and vehicular emissions`. Parking fees will also be doubled from November 1 to discourage the use of private vehicles.

`We hope we will do better than last year and keep on improving the situation from year to year, Sirsa said.-AFP