GRAP Stage 2 curbs kick in as Delhi’s air turns ‘very poor’

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has invoked Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) throughout Delhi-NCR as the town’s air high quality slipped into the “very poor” class, with the AQI crossing the 300 mark.

The transfer got here after the Sub-Committee on GRAP on Saturday (October 18, 2025) reviewed the worsening air pollution ranges and forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), which warned of additional deterioration within the coming days.

“The AQI of Delhi has proven an rising development since morning and has been recorded as 296 at 4 p.m. and 302 at 7 p.m.,” the CAQM stated, directing authorities to implement all Stage II measures with fast impact, along with Stage I actions already in drive since October 14.

The Centre’s air high quality panel additionally requested all implementing businesses to maintain strict vigil, notably on mud mitigation and to make sure compliance with focused timelines laid down below the great coverage to curb air air pollution in NCR.

Under Stage II of GRAP, a number of curbs and intensified actions embody day by day mechanical or vacuum sweeping and water sprinkling on recognized roads, ideally earlier than peak site visitors hours, to regulate mud.

Construction and demolition websites face intensified inspections to make sure strict enforcement of mud management measures.

To promote cleaner mobility, the GRAP Stage II mandates augmentation of public transport providers via further CNG and electrical buses and elevated frequency of metro providers, together with differential fare charges to encourage off-peak journey.

Resident welfare associations (RWAs) are required to offer electrical heaters to employees equivalent to guards, gardeners and sanitation staff to forestall open burning of biomass and stable waste throughout winters.

Entry of inter-state buses into Delhi is restricted to these working on CNG, EVs or BS-VI diesel, excluding vacationer buses working below all-India permits.

GRAP categorises air high quality into 4 levels: Stage I (Poor) with AQI between 201 and 300, Stage II (Very Poor) between 301 and 400, Stage III (Severe) between 401 and 450, and Stage IV (Severe Plus) for AQI above 450.

Unfavourable meteorological circumstances, mixed with vehicular emissions, paddy-straw burning, firecrackers and different native air pollution sources, contribute to hazardous air high quality ranges in Delhi-NCR throughout winters.

According to medical doctors, respiratory within the polluted air of Delhi is equal to the dangerous results of smoking roughly 10 cigarettes a day.

Prolonged publicity to excessive ranges of air pollution may cause or exacerbate respiratory issues equivalent to bronchial asthma, bronchitis and persistent obstructive pulmonary illness and dramatically elevate the chance of heart problems.