A dense blanket of deadly fog covers Delhi, throwing a melancholy gloom over the city. On Monday morning, the Air Quality Index (AQI) reached a season-high of 484, placing it in the alarming ‘ severe plus’ category. The bleak situation has hampered daily life and created severe public health and safety worries. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has activated Stage IV of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to address the rising air quality issue. This article looks into the implications of GRAP-4 in Delhi-NCR, highlighting both the restrictions it imposes and the unaffected activities and the broader consequences of Delhi’s poor air quality.

What is GRAP?

The Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) is a systematic set of emergency procedures designed to combat air pollution when it exceeds critical levels. GRAP used to combat rising pollution levels, is divided into four stages, each with increasingly stringent restrictions.

Source: IQAir

GRAP Stages:

Stage I (AQI 201-300)

• Controls on polluting automobiles.
• Dust management on building sites.
• Improved automatic road cleaning.

Stage II (AQI 301–400)

• Enhanced street cleaning and pollution-reduction initiatives.
• Expanding public transit choices to reduce vehicle emissions.

Stage III (AQI 401–450)

• Construction and demolition activities that are not strictly necessary are prohibited.
• Increased road cleaning procedures.

Stage IV (AQI>450)

• Severe restrictions include suspending truck movements and cutting office attendance by half.
• Public infrastructure projects have been suspended.

When the AQI reached 300 in October, Delhi implemented GRAP-4 in Delhi-NCR measures. Since then, GRAP Stages II and III have been executed consecutively. Last week, as air quality reached the ‘severe’ level, Stage IV was implemented to address the developing issue.

Also Read: COP29 Experts Urge India To Address Short-Lived Pollutants Amid Delhi’s Pollution Crisis

GRAP-4 Implications: What’s Allowed and What’s Not

Despite the stringent limits imposed by GRAP-4 in Delhi-NCR, certain important activities are permitted to minimize disturbance to everyday life and crucial services.

Operation of Essential Vehicles

• Trucks transporting important commodities or performing critical services are permitted to operate.
• Vehicles powered by greener fuels such as LNG, CNG, electricity, or BS-VI diesel are granted admission into Delhi.

Public Transportation and Emergency Services

• Public transport systems such as buses, Metro, and emergency vehicles continue to operate.
• To alleviate congestion, the Delhi Metro has added 60 additional trips. Citizens are encouraged to carpool and use public transit to reduce emissions.

Work from Home Operations

• Private and municipal workplaces operate at 50% capacity, with the remaining workers working remotely.
• Although CAQM has not legislated work-from-home rules, it has advised that the Delhi government and the Centre take such measures to reduce vehicle emissions.

Educational institutions

• Schools up to Class 11 have switched to online classes till further notice.
• In-person lessons for Classes 10 and 12 are proceeding as planned.

Also Read: Delhi Air Pollution Crisis: Patient Surge At RML Hospital’s Pollution OPD As Smog Season Hits

Activities Prohibited

To combat the growing pollution levels, various rigorous bans and restrictions have been implemented under GRAP-4 in Delhi-NCR.

Ban on Heavy and Light Commercial Vehicles

• Diesel-powered medium and heavy freight vehicles (BS-IV or below) are prohibited, except for those transporting critical items.
• Non-essential light commercial cars from outside Delhi are not permitted unless they run on electricity, CNG, or BS-VI diesel.

Suspension of Construction Activities

• All non-essential construction activities for public infrastructure projects, including highways, roads, flyovers, power transmission lines, and pipelines, have been suspended.

Consideration of Additional Restrictions

• State governments are considering additional steps, such as closing colleges, curtailing non-essential commercial operations, and enacting car limitations like the odd-even plan.

Also Read: India’s Air Pollution Crisis: Causes, Impacts, And Urgent Solutions

The Fallout: Delhi Suffocates Under ‘Severe Plus’ Air

The activation of GRAP-4 in Delhi-NCR underlines the severity of Delhi’s air pollution situation. On Sunday evening, the AQI progressively increased, rising from 441 to 457 in hours. By Monday morning, it had reached 481, the season’s low point.

• Disruption to Daily Life Reduced Visibility: The India Meteorological Department issued an Orange Alert for deep fog in the city, significantly reducing visibility.
• Flight and Train Delays: Over 160 flights—118 departures and 43 arrivals—were delayed at Delhi Airport owing to poor visibility. Approximately 30 rail trips were also delayed, with some lasting up to four hours.
• A Bleak Forecast: The Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology expects that Delhi’s air quality will remain in the severe or severe plus category for the next six days due to sluggish weather conditions that impede pollutant dispersion. This bleak picture means that inhabitants should prepare for more challenges.

Delhi’s ongoing air pollution issue serves as a sobering reminder of the critical need for long-term measures to tackle environmental degradation. While GRAP-4 in Delhi-NCR includes strict measures to address immediate risks, long-term methods such as developing green infrastructure, using cleaner energy sources, and raising public awareness are crucial to accomplishing long-term change.

As the city deals with dangerous air quality, the collaborative duty of government officials, industries, and citizens is critical. Only by collective action can Delhi aspire to breathe better air and provide a healthier future for its residents.

Also Read: Delhi Recorded Highest Pollution Related Deaths Per Year: Study

Conclusion

Conclusively, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-4) has classified Delhi-NCR’s air quality as ‘Severe Plus’ due to a dangerous surge in Air Quality Index (AQI) levels. GRAP-4 in Delhi-NCR, the most restrictive step of the pollution control system, has been triggered to battle deteriorating air quality. Key limits include the suspension of construction and demolition activities, with the exception of those connected to critical infrastructure such as railways or metro operations. Industrial activities utilizing non-approved fuels have been banned, while coal and biomass-based industries have been forced to shut down.

Non-essential truck entry into Delhi has been prohibited, and diesel-powered vehicles are no longer permitted (save for those meeting BS-VI criteria or providing necessary services). Schools may close, and employees are encouraged to implement work-from-home arrangements. These methods are intended to reduce emissions from vehicle traffic, dust, and industrial sources. Authorities are encouraging individuals to limit outdoor activities, take public transportation, and avoid burning rubbish.

The AQI breach highlights the critical necessity for long-term urban planning and rigorous pollution-reduction initiatives. Experts warn that such repeating crises expose major inadequacies in long-term environmental policy, requiring rapid action to protect public health and urban liveability.

Also Read: COP29 Reveals The World’s Most Polluting Cities: A Call For Urgent Action