Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) are set to face tighter anti-pollution measures as air quality dips further with the onset of winter. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has issued revised guidelines under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), moving several restrictions from higher alert stages into earlier phases in an effort to prevent air quality from sliding into the ‘severe’ category.
With the Air Quality Index hovering above 360 and several monitoring stations registering levels above 400, the national capital is once again battling a toxic winter haze. The updated framework signals a shift toward early intervention, reflecting growing concern over the persistent health hazards caused by poor air quality.
Restrictions Now Activated Earlier Under Revised GRAP
Under the updated directives, restrictions previously reserved for GRAP-IV (AQI 401-450 and above) will now be triggered during GRAP-III, which is already in force in Delhi due to rising pollution levels.
This means that authorities in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan must now consider:
- 50% attendance cap in government, municipal, and private offices
- Work-from-home mandates for remaining staff
- Central government offices may adopt similar measures
By moving these steps forward, the CAQM aims to avert further deterioration that could push the city into the ‘severe’ emergency phase.
Other revisions include:
✅ Staggered office timings
Previously under GRAP-III, now shifted to GRAP-II (AQI 301–400)
✅ Public advisories and transport augmentation
Previously under GRAP-II, now moved to GRAP-I (AQI 201–300)
Officials say this restructuring will help increase preparedness, slowdown emissions earlier, and reduce buildup before peak winter inversion sets in.
“All implementing agencies in NCR have been instructed to enforce the revised schedule immediately,” the CAQM stated.
Delhi’s Air Quality Continues to Dip
Air quality levels remained in the ‘very poor’ zone on Friday, with the city recording an average AQI of 360. Several hotspots — including Anand Vihar, Rohini, Okhla Phase-II, Punjabi Bagh and Jahangirpuri — recorded significantly worse readings, edging toward the ‘severe’ category.
The Central Pollution Control Board classifies AQI ranges as:
- 0–50: Good
- 51–100: Satisfactory
- 101–200: Moderate
- 201–300: Poor
- 301–400: Very Poor
- 401–500: Severe
Meteorologists warn that still air, dipping temperatures, and increased emissions from vehicles and biomass burning may push the capital closer to emergency thresholds in the coming days.
Schools and Public Activities Impacted
In response to the deteriorating conditions, the Delhi government has already instructed all schools and colleges to postpone physical sporting events scheduled for November and December. Some institutions are considering indoor-only academic activity, modified schedules, and reduced outdoor exposure for younger children.
Parents’ associations are calling for:
- Temporary closure during peak AQI spikes
- Air purification support in classrooms
- Better communication regarding health risks
Doctors say children, elders, and patients with asthma and cardiac disease are most vulnerable.
Why the Rules Have Been Tightened
Environmental experts say the revisions reflect three urgent realities:
🔹 Pollution levels rise earlier each winter
🔹 Previous GRAP triggers were too delayed
🔹 Health impacts are now better understood
Studies show even short-term exposure to AQI above 300 can increase:
- respiratory inflammation
- hospital admissions
- risk of long-term lung damage
The revised approach is designed to prevent escalation, not merely respond to it.
What Happens Next
Authorities will be monitoring:
✅ AQI trends over the next 72 hours
✅ wind and temperature conditions
✅ stubble burning contribution
✅ traffic congestion levels
If air quality crosses deeper into the ‘severe’ band, additional restrictions may include:
- bans on construction
- halting diesel vehicle entry
- shutting industries without clean fuel compliance
- closure of brick kilns, stone crushers, hot-mix plants
