New Delhi: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has imposed GRAP Stage 3 in Delhi NCR from 8am today, following a surge in the Air Quality Index (AQI) to ‘severe.’
This action, aimed at curbing pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR), halts all non-essential construction, demolition, and activities in polluting industries, while restricting BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles.
Delhi’s air quality remained in the ‘severe’ category for the third consecutive day on Friday, with a thick layer of smog enveloping the region and trapping toxic gases.
This year, a combination of seasonal pollution factors, stubble burning, and traffic emissions have compounded the crisis, pushing authorities to intensify measures.
Delhi recorded its highest AQI of the season on January 14, with a reading of 447. The day also saw the city’s first very dense fog, reducing visibility to zero at Palam between 8 am and 9.30 am. At Safdarjung, the capital’s base station, visibility dropped to 200 meters at 7am.
With low visibility persisting throughout the day and little sunlight, the maximum temperature plummeted to a season’s low of 27.8°C, five degrees lower than the previous day. The minimum temperature was recorded at 17°C, three degrees above normal.
While GRAP-2 measures were initially imposed to limit particulate matter, the worsening conditions have led to an upgrade to GRAP-3, which entails stricter restrictions to prevent the city’s air from slipping further into hazardous levels.
When GRAP-1, 2, 3, and 4 are triggered?
- GRAP-1: Initiated when AQI ranges between 201-300, with basic measures such as public advisories, dust control, and restriction on open burning.
- GRAP-2: Enforced when AQI reaches 301-400, involving restrictions on diesel generator sets, intensifying mechanized cleaning, and sprinkling water on roads.
- GRAP-3: Imposed when AQI crosses 400, adding stringent curbs like a ban on non-essential construction activities, restricting entry of heavy vehicles into the city, and halting brick kilns and stone crushers.
- GRAP-4: The final stage, activated when AQI exceeds 450, involves a complete halt on all construction, closure of schools, and severe vehicle restrictions, up to odd-even schemes for private vehicles.
The implementation of Stage 3 under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) introduces targeted restrictions to curb air pollution, particularly from construction and vehicle emissions.Construction and demolition restrictions
To limit pollution from construction activities, GRAP-3 imposes the following restrictions:
- Prohibited Activities: Earthwork, piling, all demolition, open trenching, operation of Ready-Mix Concrete (RMC) plants, major welding, gas-cutting, painting, polishing, plastering, tile/flooring work, waterproofing (excluding minor indoor repairs).
- Material Transport: Transportation of materials like cement, sand, and fly-ash is restricted. Vehicles carrying such materials must avoid unpaved roads.
Exemptions for critical projects
Essential infrastructure and public service projects may continue if strict dust control and waste management practices are observed. These include:
- Railway and metro projects
- Airports and bus terminals
- National defense projects
- Healthcare facilities
- Public infrastructure (e.g., highways)
- Sanitation projects (e.g., sewage treatment)
Enhanced vehicle emission norms
GRAP-3 tightens emission norms for vehicles to reduce vehicular pollution:
- BS-III Petrol & BS-IV Diesel Vehicles: Restricted in Delhi and adjacent districts like Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar.
- Diesel MGVs: Diesel Medium Goods Vehicles with BS-III standards or below, registered in Delhi, face entry bans unless transporting essential goods.
- Inter-State Buses & Diesel LCVs: Non-electric, non-CNG, and non-BS-VI diesel inter-state buses from NCR states are barred from entering Delhi, along with diesel light commercial vehicles from outside Delhi unless carrying essential goods.
Measures for public health and school safety
With the worsening air quality, the Delhi government has shifted physical classes for students up to Class V online to limit their exposure to hazardous air conditions.
Guidelines for residents
Residents are encouraged to adopt pollution-reducing practices, including:
- Opting for walking, cycling, or public transport
- Working from home when possible
- Avoiding coal or wood heating indoors
- Combining errands to reduce vehicle use
- Providing electric heaters to staff to prevent open burning
Enhanced Delhi metro services
In response to GRAP-3, Delhi Metro has introduced 20 additional weekday trips, totaling 60 extra trips to support commuting needs while reducing pollution from private vehicles.
