Delhi woke up to a thick blanket of smog on Tuesday as the city’s air quality dipped to ‘severe’ levels for the first time this season. In response, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) ordered the immediate implementation of Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
The decision came after the national capital’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) surged from 362 on Monday to 425 by 9 a.m. on Tuesday. With pollution levels worsening fast, Delhi and its surrounding areas—Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida—are now under stricter curbs to limit emissions.
AQI Crosses 400 Mark at Most Stations
Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB)’s Sameer app revealed that 34 out of 39 monitoring stations in Delhi recorded ‘severe’ air quality at 7 a.m. The highest readings came from Bawana (462), Wazirpur (460), Mundka (452), and Punjabi Bagh (452).
An AQI level between 301 and 400 falls under the ‘very poor’ category, while readings above 400 are considered ‘severe’.
What GRAP Stage III Means for Delhi
Under Stage III restrictions, all non-essential construction and demolition work must stop immediately. This includes excavation, piling, laying of sewer lines, and other open-trench projects. The operation of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) batching plants has also been banned.
The order also bans the use of private BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light motor vehicles (LMVs) across Delhi-NCR. Similarly, diesel-run BS-IV medium goods vehicles and BS-IV or lower light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi cannot enter the city unless they are carrying essential goods or providing critical services.
Schools Shut, Work-from-Home Advisory Issued
Authorities have asked all schools up to Class 5 to suspend physical classes and shift to online mode until further notice. To curb vehicular pollution, private companies are advised to switch to work-from-home or hybrid working models wherever possible.
Essential Projects Allowed with Strict Guidelines
However, essential public projects like railway and metro construction, airport operations, defence work, sanitation, and healthcare projects are exempted from the ban. Even so, these sites must strictly follow dust and waste management norms to minimize pollution.
A Call for Collective Action
Delhi’s worsening pollution levels have again raised questions about long-term air management strategies. Experts say that despite regular winter restrictions, pollution continues to rise due to factors like stubble burning, vehicle emissions, and dust from construction.
Residents have been urged to limit outdoor activities, especially early in the morning and late at night when pollution levels peak.
Authorities are expected to review the situation in the coming days. If air quality fails to improve, Stage IV of GRAP—considered the most stringent level—could be enforced next.
