By: Express News ServiceNew Delhi | November 8, 2025 05:15 AM IST 2 min readWater sprinklers in use at Sarojini Nagar in New Delhi on Friday (Express/Praveen Khanna)Amid Delhi recording the worst air quality among all cities on Friday, Chief Minister Rekha Gupta announced staggered working hours for Delhi government and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) employees from November 15 to February 15.According to a statement from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), since pollution levels are expected to rise between November 15 and February 15, government offices would function from 10 am to 6.30 pm and MCD offices from 8.30 am to 5 pm during this period.At present, Delhi government offices operate between 9.30 am and 6 pm, and MCD offices from 9 am to 5.30 pm.The CMO said that since there is currently only a 30-minute gap between the two schedules, the city experiences heavy traffic congestion both in the morning and the evening, aggravating air pollution.“This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure to help curb pollution, ensuring that the pressure of vehicular traffic does not increase all at once on the roads, thereby distributing traffic more evenly and reducing pollution levels,” said an official.The decision was taken in a recent meeting the CM held with Environment department officials to review the deteriorating air quality index (AQI) in the city. Delhi on Friday recorded an AQI of 322, making it the most polluted city in the country, according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).Officials said similar measures were also taken by previous governments when pollution was at its peak.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd