The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has implemented Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to tackle worsening winter air pollution and dense smog across Delhi and the adjoining
National Capital Region (NCR).
The decision comes even as Delhi’s air quality showed marginal improvement on Wednesday morning, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 328. The reading still falls in the ‘very poor’ category. Several parts of the city remained covered in thick smog during the early morning hours, leading to reduced visibility and health concerns.
As per official classification, an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered ‘good’, 51 to 100 ‘satisfactory’, 101 to 200 ‘moderate’, 201 to 300 ‘poor’, 301 to 400 ‘very poor’ and 401 to 500 ‘severe’.
Delhi was placed under GRAP IV curbs last week after pollution levels crossed into the ‘severe’ category, prompting authorities to activate emergency measures aimed at reducing emissions and limiting public exposure.
What Is Open, Closed, Banned And Restricted Under GRAP IV
- Schools: The Delhi government has discontinued physical classes for students from nursery to Class 5. While parents were earlier given the option to choose between online and offline classes, students in these grades will now continue learning from home. For students of Classes 6 to 9 and Class 11, schools will function in hybrid mode, allowing students to attend either online or in person.
- Offices: Government and private offices in Delhi have been directed to operate with only 50 percent staff on site. The remaining employees are required to work from home. Private offices have also been advised to introduce flexible working hours to reduce peak-time congestion.
- Ban On Vehicles: Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Monday manadated that all vehicles below BS-VI category and registered outside Delhi will not be allowed to enter the city when GRAP 3 and 4 are in place. The government will not allow any polluting vehicle to enter Delhi, he added. “To control vehicular tail pipe emissions, all the dealers of the petrol, diesel and CNG pumps are directed to refuel only those motor vehicles whose owners produce valid Pollution Under Control Certificate (PUCC),” he added.
- Construction Activities: All construction and demolition activities have been halted across Delhi, including linear public infrastructure projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, power transmission lines, pipelines and telecom works. These projects, which are permitted during lower GRAP stages, remain suspended under GRAP IV curbs. Any vehicles carrying construction materials will not be allowed to enter Delhi when GRAP 4 is in place, Sirsa had said on Monday.
