Mumbai GRAP‑4 Restrictions: What You Can Still Do & What’s Banned – Quick Guide

Mumbai has moved into the strictest tier of its pollution control measures as authorities began enforcing the Graded Response Action Plan 4 across the pockets hit hardest by deteriorating air quality.

The city has been trapped under persistent haze for days, prompting officials to activate stronger curbs in the most affected zones.

Key Restrictions and Permissions Under GRAP 4

The city saw a brief improvement on Monday with the Air Quality Index touching 103 in the moderate range at 4 pm according to Central Pollution Control Board data. Despite this temporary relief, the focus remains on neighbourhoods that have recorded poor air quality throughout November and have even slipped into the very poor category with AQI levels between 301 and 400. These locations include Mazgaon, Malad and Deonar.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has been instructed to immediately halt construction and any activity that creates dust in the worst impacted stretches. Road cleaning and dust suppression efforts are being intensified specifically in areas where AQI levels have stayed poor, including Borivali east, Malad west, Chakala in Andheri east, Deonar, Mazgaon, Navy Nagar, Mulund west and Powai.

Small scale industrial units contributing to pollution will face penalties for violations. A civic official said that 95 flying squads deployed across the city checked 70 construction locations and issued stop work notices at 53 of them by November 26 for failing to follow the 28 point rule set by the municipal corporation. These teams will continue round the clock monitoring of emissions.

In related actions, bakery owners have been ordered to demolish their chimneys, while marble cutting units in Chakala in Andheri east have been directed to shift to cleaner operating processes. Alongside this, around 450 junior supervisors from the solid waste management department now have the mandate to impose fines. Anyone caught dumping debris on the streets will face strict penalties, and these supervisors will also keep an eye on the burning of garbage and plastic.

Court Remarks on Pollution Blame

Last week, the Bombay High Court dismissed the state government's explanation that a volcanic eruption in Ethiopia had triggered Mumbai's worsening air quality.

"Even before this eruption, if one stepped out, visibility was poor beyond 500 metres," the judges said.

The court has since formed an independent committee of five experts to examine construction sites and determine whether pollution control guidelines are being followed.