The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lifted Stage III restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for the Delhi-NCR region on Sunday. This decision followed an improvement in the air quality index (AQI), with readings reaching 339 at 4 p.m. and 335 at 5 p.m. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast further improvement due to favorable weather conditions and stronger winds.
However, the CAQM cautioned that the AQI is predicted to remain in the “poor” category in the coming days. Therefore, Stage I and II GRAP restrictions remain in effect to prevent further deterioration. Specifically, construction and demolition sites previously shut down for violations must not resume operations without CAQM permission. This follows a Supreme Court directive mandating Stage III measures for AQI readings exceeding 350 and Stage IV for readings above 400.
The CAQM sub-committee will continue monitoring the air quality and adjust restrictions accordingly. While most Stage III restrictions have been lifted, some limitations persist. Schools will no longer be required to implement hybrid learning models for grades up to 5. The ban on non-essential BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers (excluding those for people with disabilities) in Delhi-NCR has been lifted, as has the ban on non-essential BS-IV and older diesel-operated medium goods vehicles in Delhi. The exception to these lifted restrictions remains the continued ban on non-essential construction work.