The Centre’s air quality panel for Delhi-NCR has implemented GRAP III following a significant rise in pollution levels. At 2 pm, Delhi’s AQI was recorded at 367. The city’s poor air quality, driven by unfavorable weather conditions, typically lingers from November to January.

An official order said that in view of the “highly unfavourable meteorological conditions” the AQI of the city has been pushed to the “higher end of the very poor category”. “The panel’s sub-committee on Graded Response Action Plan decides to impose stage 3 of the revised GRAP schedule (issued on Friday) in the entire NCR, with immediate effect,” it added.

Delhi-NCR GRAP lll: What’s allowed, what’s restricted?

Under the revised plan, schools and colleges in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar are required to shift classes up to Grade V to hybrid mode as part of GRAP Stage III. Students and parents can opt for online education where available.

Stage III also imposes a ban on non-essential diesel-operated medium goods vehicles with BS-IV or older standards within Delhi. Non-essential diesel light commercial vehicles, registered outside Delhi and with BS-IV or older standards, are also prohibited from entering the city. Previously, these restrictions applied only to BS-III vehicles.

Individuals with disabilities are exempt from the restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel vehicles in Delhi and the surrounding districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar under Stage III.

Additionally, the Delhi and NCR state governments have been instructed to stagger working hours for public offices and municipal bodies during Stage III. The Centre may also implement similar staggered timings for central government offices in the Delhi-NCR region.

(With PTI inputs)

.