Delhi authorities have implemented the first set of anti-pollution measures for the season following a sharp decline in air quality, marking the onset of the city’s annual winter smog period. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) activated Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) on Wednesday after the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) surged from 179 on Tuesday to 244 by mid-afternoon, pushing air quality from moderate to poor.
The escalation prompted officials to intensify efforts targeting dust, vehicle emissions, open burning, and industrial pollution throughout the National Capital Region (NCR). Forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM) suggest that poor air conditions are likely to persist in the coming days.
Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa outlined additional interventions designed to curb pollution from traffic and construction activity. Vehicles without valid Pollution Under Control certificates will be denied fuel, and parking fees across Delhi will be doubled except at Metro-operated parking facilities. To alleviate congestion and reduce emissions, the government will also introduce staggered working hours and encourage work-from-home arrangements for employees of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and other government offices.
Restrictions on outdoor construction and demolition have been imposed, and open burning is now prohibited. Authorities have deployed 608 anti-smog guns and 1,150 mist-spray units throughout the city to suppress dust from roads and construction sites. In addition, an Integrated Command and Control Centre has been established to monitor pollution related to construction activities. The city is also employing an artificial intelligence-based traffic management system aimed at improving traffic flow to reduce vehicular emissions.
Sirsa noted that this year’s imposition of GRAP interventions was delayed compared to previous years, pointing to improvements in air quality over the past months. He reported that Delhi had recorded 214 days with air quality in the good to moderate range in 2026, the highest in 12 years outside of the COVID-19 pandemic period. The minister attributed these gains to government initiatives and public cooperation, while criticizing the prior administration for what he described as inadequate measures.