NEW DELHI: Delhi’s air quality showed marginal improvement on Wednesday, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to withdraw Stage III (‘severe’ category) restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect.
The decision follows a review by the GRAP Sub-Committee, which noted that the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) has been improving for four consecutive days, settling at 327 on Wednesday—still in the ‘very poor’ category but below the severe-range threshold that triggers Stage III.
According to the order dated November 26, the IMD and IITM forecast indicates that Delhi’s air quality is expected to remain in the ‘very poor’ range over the next few days. While a full recovery is unlikely in the near term due to unfavourable winter meteorology, the CAQM said the current levels do not warrant continued enforcement of Stage III actions.
With the rollback, bans on several high-dust construction and demolition activities, operation of stone crushers, and curbs on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light motor vehicles in Delhi-NCR stand lifted. However, the Commission made it clear that construction sites and projects that were individually shut for violations will not be allowed to restart without explicit clearance.
Authorities across NCR have been directed to strictly continue and intensify measures under Stage I and II, which remain in force. These include enhanced mechanised road sweeping, increased water sprinkling, tighter dust-control enforcement at construction sites, restrictions on diesel generator use, and targeted action at pollution hotspots.
The CAQM also urged citizens to adhere to the GRAP citizen charter, avoid polluting activities, and remain vigilant as winter progresses. The Sub-Committee will continue to monitor the situation closely and may re-impose stricter measures if pollution levels rise again.