Delhi’s Air Quality Worsens; Stage-II of GRAP Activated to Curb Pollution

New Delhi, Oct 2025 : Delhi’s air quality crisis deepened on Saturday, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in the National Capital Region (NCR) and adjoining areas to swiftly enforce Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 296 (‘Poor’), breaching 300 by 6 p.m. and touching 302 by 7 p.m., sliding into the ‘Very Poor’ category.

Alarmed by this sharp deterioration, the CAQM’s GRAP Sub-Committee convened an emergency meeting to assess the situation. Based on forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), which predict sustained ‘Very Poor’ levels (301–400) in the coming days due to stagnant winds, localized emissions, and temperature inversions, the committee decided to trigger Stage-II measures immediately.

The 12-point Stage-II action plan builds upon existing Stage-I measures and directs NCR states’ Pollution Control Boards and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) to intensify enforcement. Key steps include mechanical road sweeping, extensive water sprinkling, and the use of dust suppressants—particularly at pollution hotspots, construction sites, and high-traffic corridors.

Strict monitoring of construction and demolition activities will continue, while uninterrupted power supply has been mandated to minimize reliance on diesel generator (DG) sets. DG operations are restricted to emergency services—such as hospitals, airports, Metro operations, railways, water pumping stations, sewage treatment plants, and telecom services—under directives issued on September 29, 2023.

To ease traffic-related emissions, traffic police will deploy additional personnel at congestion points. Media outlets have been instructed to broadcast pollution advisories and citizen guidelines. Public transport is being reinforced with extra CNG and electric buses, while higher parking fees will discourage private vehicle use.

The CAQM has also urged Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) to provide electric heaters to security and support staff to prevent open biomass burning. Furthermore, only electric, CNG, or BS-VI diesel inter-state buses are permitted to enter Delhi.

Citizens are advised to use public transport, avoid construction dust, and refrain from waste burning, in line with the Citizen Charter for Stages I and II.

Authorities have assured continuous monitoring and periodic reviews of the air quality situation. The full details of GRAP implementation are available on the CAQM website. The escalation, attributed to stubble burning and vehicular emissions, highlights the urgent need for coordinated regional efforts to combat Delhi’s worsening winter smog.