Air pollution in Delhi-NCR has worsened sharply, pushing air quality into the “severe” category and forcing authorities to activate the toughest emergency measures under Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). The decision was taken on Saturday after the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 448 around 8 pm, indicating extremely unhealthy air for all residents.
The move came just hours after Stage III restrictions had already been enforced, highlighting how rapidly pollution levels deteriorated across the region. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) said the situation required immediate action to prevent further damage to public health.
According to the CAQM, all restrictions under Stage IV, also known as ‘Severe+’, will remain in force across the entire National Capital Region. These measures are in addition to the rules already imposed under Stages I, II, and III of GRAP. Pollution control boards and enforcement agencies have been instructed to strictly monitor compliance and intensify preventive steps.
Authorities warned that prolonged exposure to such air quality can cause serious respiratory problems, especially for children, the elderly, and people with existing health conditions.
Under GRAP-IV, several activities that contribute to air pollution have been completely banned to bring down emissions quickly. One of the most important restrictions relates to vehicle movement.
The entry of diesel-powered medium and heavy goods vehicles into Delhi has been banned, except for those carrying essential goods and services. Only trucks running on LNG, CNG, electric power, or BS-VI compliant diesel are allowed to enter the city.
The entry of light commercial vehicles (LCVs) registered outside Delhi is also restricted. Only electric, CNG, and BS-VI diesel vehicles are permitted, unless the vehicle is transporting essential commodities or providing essential services.
All construction and demolition activities have been stopped. This includes earthwork, excavation, piling, and structural construction. Authorities believe construction dust is a major contributor to pollution during winter months.
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Industrial operations have also been hit. The functioning of stone crushers, brick kilns, hot mix plants, and mining activities has been suspended. Industries that use coal, furnace oil, or other non-approved fuels are not allowed to operate during this period.
The use of diesel generator sets has been banned, except in emergency situations and for essential services. Additionally, open burning of any kind, including waste, leaves, and biomass, is strictly prohibited. Any activity that can increase dust levels or air emissions has also been barred.
Despite the strict controls, certain essential activities are allowed to continue under GRAP-IV to ensure daily life and critical services are not disrupted. Construction work related to essential infrastructure projects such as metro rail, railways, airports, highways, defence, healthcare, and sanitation is permitted, provided strict dust-control measures are followed.
Emergency repair and maintenance work is also allowed, but only under close monitoring. The movement of electric vehicles, CNG vehicles, and BS-VI compliant vehicles is permitted to encourage cleaner transport options.
Public transport services, including buses and metro trains, will continue to operate to help reduce the number of private vehicles on roads. Vehicles used by persons with disabilities are also exempted from restrictions.
The GRAP-IV framework allows state governments and the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) to take further steps if needed. These include allowing public, municipal, and private offices to operate at 50 per cent staff strength, with the remaining employees working from home. The central government may also decide on work-from-home arrangements for its offices.
State governments have been given the option to introduce additional emergency measures. These may include the closure of colleges and educational institutions, shutting down non-essential commercial activities, and even implementing the odd-even vehicle scheme if pollution levels do not improve.
Power generation units supplying electricity are allowed to function to avoid power shortages. Diesel generators can be used in hospitals, data centres, telecom services, and other emergency situations where uninterrupted power supply is critical.
Officials have urged citizens to cooperate fully with the restrictions and avoid unnecessary travel. People are also advised to limit outdoor activities, use public transport, and wear masks if stepping outside.
The situation will continue to be monitored closely by the CAQM. Authorities said restrictions may be relaxed only when air quality shows sustained improvement. Until then, GRAP-IV measures remain a crucial step to protect public health and prevent further deterioration of air quality in Delhi-NCR.
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