Delhi's AQI hits 245, a 100-day high, and GRAP Stage I curbs kick in across NCR

Delhi’s air turned poor on Wednesday for the first time this season, and the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) responded by putting Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) into force across the National Capital Region.

The city’s air quality index climbed to 245 by Wednesday evening, its worst reading in 100 days. The last time the capital’s air was this bad was 13 July, when the index stood at 246. On Tuesday the daily figure had been 179, in the moderate band. The CAQM order, issued in the afternoon, cited an AQI of 244 at 2 pm and noted that forecasts by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology expected the air to stay in the poor category “in coming days”.

The slide came a day after Dussehra, when Ravan effigies stuffed with firecrackers were burnt across the city, though no direct link between the celebrations and the readings has been established. Analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air shows that between 2015 and 2025 Delhi usually slipped into poor air in the first half of October. This year’s onset, on 21 October, is the latest in that period.

What Stage I means

Under Stage I, which applies when the AQI is between 201 and 300, agencies must enforce dust control at construction and demolition sites, including covering materials, using anti-smog guns and sprinkling water. Open burning of biomass and municipal waste is banned, and the commission wants closer checks on pollution certificates for vehicles and action against visibly polluting and overage petrol and diesel vehicles.

Inspections of industries, brick kilns and hot-mix plants across the region are to be stepped up. Inter-city and inter-state buses from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan can enter Delhi-NCR only if they run on electricity, CNG or BS-VI diesel. “Citizens may be requested to strictly adhere to the citizen charter under GRAP Stage-1,” the order said.

Sirsa’s case

Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said about 30 agencies were working on the city’s plan and credited the late arrival of Stage I to preventive work and public participation. Delhi has had 214 clean air days so far this year, he said, the most in a decade leaving aside the Covid years. He put about 30% of the city’s pollution down to local sources and 60 to 65% to the surrounding region, and said the previous government “kept making excuses”, blaming Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana or Rajasthan in turn.

From 1 November, fuel stations will refuse vehicles without a valid pollution certificate, non-BS-VI vehicles registered outside Delhi will face restrictions, and parking charges at authorised lots will double, with Metro parking exempt. The Delhi Metro said it would run 20 extra weekday train trips from Thursday.

The week ahead

The Decision Support System run by IITM puts transport as the biggest single source in its latest estimate, at about 20.5%, with stubble burning at about 8%. Farm fires are forecast to push that share above 13% on Thursday before it eases to about 10% on Friday.

The early warning system expects poor air at least until 23 October and no real change for six days after that. On Wednesday it had projected an AQI of about 342, in the very poor band, for 9 am on Thursday. The IMD has forecast rain in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi on 24 and 25 October, which could offer the first relief.