It is that time of the year again when the entire Delhi and National Capital Region (NCR) reel under the severe effect of smog and air pollution as winter starts to set in. To counter this, various municipal bodies in the NCR implement stringent norms to curb the density of the air pollution.
In the same regard, the Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has implemented the GRAP regulations beginning from October 1. The official announcement of the same was made last week and listed down various stages of GRAP.
In a statement to PTI, the Environment and Sustainability wing of the MCG said, “To combat air pollution, the following measures need to be taken immediately from 01.10.2023 as per the Revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for NCR by the Commission for Air Quality Management. The activities in brief are to be carried out by Municipal Corporation Gurugram Stage by Stage along with responsible officers/team”.
Let us look at the various stages of the ongoing GRAP and how it is going to affect vehicular activities in the NCR.
NCR GRAP: Stage 1
The first phase will be implemented when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is between 201 and 300. In this phase, the MCG will keep a strict vigilance and enforce PUC (pollution under control) norms with no tolerance for visible emissions. Furthermore, overaged trucks won’t be allowed entry into Delhi.
NCR GRAP: Stage 2
In case air pollution reaches stage 2— where AQI index is between 301 and 400— traffic police personnel will be deployed on identified vulnerable areas to ensure smooth flow of traffic.
NCR GRAP: Stage 3
If the air pollution further intensifies to the third stage— where AQI index ranges between 401 and 450— all NCR state governments will ban the plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel light motor four-wheelers in the Delhi-NCR region.
NCR GRAP Stage 4
In the ‘severe’ Stage 4, where AQI crosses 450, the entries of all trucks, light commercial vehicles (registered outside Delhi) will be completely banned in Delhi, except for the ones carrying essential goods or those running on LNG/CNG or electric batteries. Similarly, all Delhi-registered, diesel-powered MGVs, HGVs will be banned on Delhi roads, except if they are carrying essential commodities.
