New Delhi: As rains improved air quality in Delhi National Capital Region (NCR), the Sub-Committee on Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) revoked all actions under Stage-III of the revised GRAP with immediate effect today. Following the decision BS3 petrol and BS4 diesel vehicles can once again ply on Delhi and NCR roads.
However, all actions under Stages II & I of the revised GRAP shall remain invoked and be implemented, intensified, monitored and reviewed by all agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the Air Quality Index (AQI) levels do not rise further in the coming days.
Today, Delhi’s average AQI improved and was recorded at 281 at 2 pm. It improved to 278 at 4 pm and the AQI Bulletin provided by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), clearly indicated a downward trend.
In view of this trend of improvement in the average AQI of Delhi, the Sub-Committee met today to review the current air quality scenario in the region as well as the forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology and accordingly took the call on the preventive/ restrictive actions under Stage-III of revised GRAP in place in the entire National Capital Region (NCR) since January 9, 2025.
While comprehensively reviewing the overall air quality parameters of Delhi-NCR, the Sub-Committee observed as under:
- Owing to a WD (Western Disturbance) on January 11 – 12, 2025, there were rains around Delhi-NCR and the AQI of Delhi showed a significant improvement owing to the favourable meteorological conditions.
- The AQI of Delhi was recorded as 278 at 4:00 pm today which was 72 points below the 350 mark to implement the Stage-III as per the extant directives of the Supreme Court. Further, the forecast by IMD predicted another Western Disturbance in the region around January 14– 15, 2025.
Therefore, keeping in view the disruptive nature of restrictions under Stage-III of revised GRAP impacting a large number of stakeholders and public as well as considering the trend of improvement in the average AQI of Delhi and also the forecasts by IMD/ IITM indicating the likelihood of the overall air quality of Delhi to stay in ‘Poor’/ ‘Very Poor’ category in the coming days, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP today unanimously decided to revoke all actions under Stage-III of revised GRAP in the entire NCR, with immediate effect.
– global bihari bureau
