
New Delhi: In view of improvement in the air quality of Delhi-National Capital Region, Stage III of GRAP has again been revoked in the entire NCR with immediate effect.
Cars which were restricted under Stage III can now ply on Delhi NCR roads. All actions under Stages II & I of GRAP will, however, remain invoked in the entire NCR to ensure that the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels do not rise further in the coming days.
It may be recalled that in pursuance of the directions of the Supreme Court, the Sub-Committee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) had dated 29.01.2025 invoked GRAP Stage-III on January 29, 2025, when the average AQI of Delhi started to exhibit a sharp increasing trend and breached the 350 mark on the same day.
Noting a downward trend in the AQI levels of Delhi, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP met today to review the current air quality scenario in the region as well as the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index and accordingly take an appropriate call on the preventive/ restrictive actions under Stage-III of GRAP.
While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR, the Sub-Committee observed as under:
Owing to improvement in mixing height and ventilation coefficient and much favourable meteorological conditions for dispersion of pollutants, the AQI of Delhi has shown a significant improvement.
The AQI of Delhi has been recorded as 286 for February 3, 2025, which is 64 points below the 350 mark to implement the Stage-III as per the extant directives of the Supreme Court. Further, the forecast by India Meteorological Department predicts very light rain and favourable wind conditions in the days to come.
Construction and Demolition project sites etc. which have been issued specific closure orders on account of violations/ non-compliances of various statutory directions, rules, guidelines etc. under no circumstances shall resume their operations without any specific order to this effect from the Commission.
While GRAP Stage-III is being revoked, keeping in view the winter season when weather conditions may not be always favourable and in order to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further, citizens are told to strictly adhere to the citizen charter under Stages II and I of the extant schedule of GRAP.
– global bihari bureau