Pollution levels enter ‘severe’ zone; BS-III and BS-IV vehicles restricted, non-essential construction banned as emergency measures kick in
Delhi’s air quality plunged into the ‘severe’ category on Tuesday, prompting authorities to enforce Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect. The city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) spiked from 362 on Monday to 425 by 9 AM, marking the season’s first severe air pollution alert.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), 34 of Delhi’s 39 monitoring stations reported severe air quality levels. Bawana recorded an alarming AQI of 462, followed closely by Wazirpur at 460 and Punjabi Bagh at 452.
Under GRAP-III restrictions, all non-essential construction and demolition work has been banned, including earth excavation, trenching, and Ready-Mix Concrete operations. Private BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers are barred from operating in Delhi-NCR, alongside non-essential diesel-run commercial vehicles.
Authorities have urged private companies to adopt work-from-home or hybrid models to curb vehicular emissions. Schools up to Class 5 have been closed, with classes shifted online. Essential public infrastructure projects such as metro, railways, and healthcare construction are allowed under strict dust control measures.
The pollution surge underscores the worsening air crisis in the capital as winter sets in
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