Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Friday announced stagged working hours for government and municipal corporation (MCD) employees in the national capital from November 15 in view of the deteriorating air quality index (AQI) in the city-state.

Delhi government offices would now operate from 10 am to 6.30 pm, while MCD offices will function from 8.30 am to 5 pm. Currently, Delhi government and MCD offices operate from 9.30 am and 6 pm, and 9 am to 5.30 pm, respectively.

In its statement, the Delhi government said 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, which aggravates the air pollution in the national capital.

The overall air quality in Delhi remained

in the 'very poor'

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