GRAP-3 Imposed In Delhi's As AQI Plummets To 'Severe'; Vehicle Restrictions In Place, Schools Go Online

On Friday morning, 15 November, the air quality across several parts of Delhi remained in the "severe" category, with a thick layer of smog once again covering the National Capital Region (NCR), including Noida, Ghaziabad, and Gurugram.

The worsening Air Quality Index (AQI) has led the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), India's central pollution watchdog, to enforce restrictions under stage three of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Photo Credit: PTI

Measures include a ban on construction activities and a halt to the operation of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles in Delhi and the NCR.

The restrictions came into effect from 8 am on Friday. In response to the alarming pollution levels, the Delhi government also announced that primary school classes will not be held physically until further notice, though online classes may continue.

According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the AQI in Delhi's Anand Vihar was recorded at 441 by 6 am on Thursday. Bawana (455), Dwarka Sector 8 (444), and Jahangirpuri (458) were among the areas with the poorest air quality, each recording AQI levels over 400, which categorises as "severe."

Here are the top 10 updates on Delhi's air pollution:

What's Restricted?

CAQM has mandated that the Delhi government and NCR states impose strict restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers within the capital and nearby Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar. Offenders will face fines of ₹20,000.

Under stage three of GRAP, all inter-state buses from NCR states are barred from entering Delhi, alongside a strict ban on construction, demolition, and mining activities. Daily water spraying on major roads will occur, and students up to Year 5 may continue with online learning.

What's Allowed?

Electric vehicles, CNG vehicles, and BS-VI diesel buses may continue to operate in the NCR. CAQM will permit less-polluting and low dust-generating construction activities within the NCR, under strict compliance with C&D Waste Management Rules.

Delhi Metro Services

The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) announced that, in line with GRAP-III, it will introduce 20 additional weekday trips (on top of 40 added during GRAP-II).

Delhi's 24-Hour AQI As recorded at 4 pm daily, the city's AQI stood at 424, up from 418 the previous day. Out of Delhi's 39 monitoring stations, 27 reported "severe" air quality. These included stations at Anand Vihar, Ashok Vihar, Aya Nagar, Bawana, Dwarka Sector 8, IGI Airport, ITO, Jahangirpuri, and others.

Political Disputes

On Thursday, a political row erupted over Delhi's worsening air quality. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) demanded the resignation of Delhi's environment minister Gopal Rai, accusing him of neglecting the city's air quality. Rai responded, attributing inaction to BJP-led state governments in neighbouring areas.

Understanding GRAP

GRAP for Delhi-NCR comprises four stages, with Stage 1 applying to "poor" AQI (201-300), Stage 2 to "very poor" AQI (301-400), Stage 3 to "severe" AQI (401-450), and Stage 4 to "severe plus" AQI (over 450).

Current AQI Status

Delhi's air quality has been categorised as "very poor" since 30 October, with the season's first "severe" level recorded on Wednesday.

Primary Pollution Sources

The Centre's Decision Support System for Air Quality Management attributes approximately 12.2% of Delhi's pollution to vehicular emissions.

Stubble burning remains another significant source, with 202 incidents recorded in Uttar Pradesh, five in Punjab, and 11 in Haryana on Thursday, according to satellite data from the Indian Agricultural Research Institute (IARI).