NEW DELHI: The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas or CAQM on Friday invoked GRAP 3 curbs after the air quality showed an increasing trend, according to officials. The air quality index (AQI) in Delhi, which was 343 at 4 pm on Thursday, rose to 354 at 4 pm on Friday.
The deterioration in air quality follows a brief improvement recorded during the first few days of 2026, when the AQI had dropped to the “poor” category. In December, all measures under GRAP Stage 3 were enforced after the AQI surged into the “severe” range.
Subsequently, the CAQM lifted the Stage 3 restrictions on January 2, citing a significant improvement in pollution levels. However, with the AQI rising once again, the curbs have been re-imposed to prevent further deterioration in air quality.
“Further, forecasts for weather and meteorological conditions by the IMD/IITM indicate that due to slow wind speed, stable atmosphere, unfavourable weather parameters and meteorological conditions and lack of dispersal of pollutants, Delhi’s average AQI is likely to breach the 400-mark and enter the ‘severe’ category in the coming days,” a senior official said.
Under Stage 3 curbs, non-essential construction and demolition activities have been banned. These include earthwork, piling, open trenching, welding, painting, plastering, tile and flooring work, along with operations at ready-mix concrete (RMC) plants.
Additionally, transportation of construction materials such as cement, sand, and fly ash on unpaved roads are also prohibited. Stone crushers, brick kilns and mining activities are also ordered to shut under this provision. Importantly, vehicular restrictions remain in place, including a ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers, non-essential diesel-powered medium goods vehicles, and inter-state diesel buses that do not run on CNG, electricity, or BS-VI standards.
However, some exemptions have been provided. Infrastructure and public service projects such as metro, railway, airport, highway, defence, healthcare and sanitation works are permitted to continue.