Climate & Environment

Delhi‑NCR Enforces Stage III GRAP Ahead of Diwali, Banning Construction and Older Vehicles

By Garvit Bhirani

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Friday, 6 November, just days before Diwali. The move adds new restrictions to those already in place under Stages I and II, targeting construction work, older vehicles and certain industrial operations. Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) was 382 on Friday, a ‘very poor’ reading, with several stations reporting ‘severe’ levels. Stage III is linked to the ‘severe’ air‑quality category, but CAQM can impose it pre‑emptively when forecasts predict worsening conditions.

Under the new rules, non‑essential construction and demolition activities are banned across the Delhi‑NCR. This includes excavation, earthwork, piling, trenching, drilling, boring, demolition, brickwork, masonry, road construction, major repairs, painting, polishing, varnishing, major welding, gas‑cutting, and cutting or grinding tiles and stones. Movement, loading and unloading of dust‑generating materials such as cement, sand, bricks, fly ash and crushed stone are restricted, especially on unpaved roads. Stone crushers, mining operations and hot‑mix plants that do not use approved clean fuels must shut down.

Vehicles with BS‑III petrol or BS‑IV diesel engines, or older light motor vehicles, are barred from operating in Delhi and five high‑vehicle‑density NCR districts: Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida). Vehicles adapted for persons with disabilities and used for their personal travel are exempt. Certain goods vehicles are also affected: BS‑IV and older diesel medium goods vehicles registered in Delhi are restricted, while such medium goods vehicles and light goods vehicles registered outside Delhi cannot enter the capital.

Diesel generator sets are prohibited except for those required for emergency and essential services. Non‑compliant industrial units, including stone crushers and hot‑mix plants not using clean fuels, face closure or operational restrictions. Construction related to essential infrastructure projects may continue if dust‑control measures are observed, and other construction activities that produce relatively less dust may be allowed under applicable dust‑mitigation and construction‑waste management norms.

Metro services and public buses remain operational, with authorities expected to add Metro trips and deploy additional buses to encourage commuters to use public transport. Vehicles not covered by the restrictions—eligible BS‑VI, CNG and electric vehicles—can continue to operate under other applicable rules.

Schools up to Class 5 in Delhi and the NCR districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar must conduct classes in a hybrid mode, allowing students to attend either physically or online where feasible. Other NCR districts may also adopt this arrangement. State governments and the Delhi government may decide whether public, municipal and private offices should operate with 50 % of staff physically present, with the remainder working from home. The central government can take a separate decision for its employees. Private offices are advised to consider work‑from‑home or hybrid arrangements.