Delhi-NCR implements revised air quality action plan ahead of winter

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has activated an updated version of the Graded Response Action Plan for the Delhi-National Capital Region ahead of the winter pollution season. The revised framework establishes four distinct pollution stages, with corresponding restrictions that escalate as air quality deteriorates.

Under the new GRAP guidelines, private vehicle parking fees will be increased as a measure to discourage unnecessary travel during high pollution episodes. The plan also permits schools to shift to hybrid learning models when air quality index readings reach specified thresholds, allowing students to alternate between in-campus and remote instruction.

Office-based organizations are authorized to allow up to 50 percent of their workforce to operate on a work-from-home basis during periods when pollution levels worsen. These provisions aim to reduce vehicular emissions and outdoor activities that contribute to air degradation.

The tiered approach allows authorities to implement proportionate measures rather than blanket restrictions, with each stage of the GRAP triggering specific interventions designed to protect public health. The plan represents an effort to balance environmental concerns with economic and educational continuity in the region.