GRAP III- Delhi NCR
Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been activated across Delhi-NCR as of November 11, 2025, due to air quality reaching the 'severe' category with AQI readings around 425, prompting strict anti-pollution measures from the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
Major Restrictions Under GRAP III
- Construction and Demolition Ban: All non-essential construction and demolition activities are banned. This includes earthwork, piling, trenching, welding, painting, plastering, tile or flooring work, Ready Mix Concrete (RMC) plants, and stone crushers or mining operations.
- Vehicle Restrictions: Use of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers is strictly prohibited in Delhi and surrounding NCR districts (Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Budh Nagar). Persons with disabilities are exempt from these curbs.
- School Closures & Hybrid Classes: Schools up to Class V are closed for in-person lessons, switching to online or hybrid learning to protect young children from toxic air.
- Industrial Operations: Industries using unapproved fuels must cease operations. Transportation of demolition waste and raw materials like cement, sand, and fly ash is restricted.
Additional Measures
- Mechanised road sweeping has been intensified to reduce dust.
- Public transport options are being expanded with differential rates to discourage private vehicle use.
- Mining and stone crushing activities have been halted until further notice.
Context and Duration
- The measures come in response to persistent and severe air quality due to a combination of meteorological conditions, vehicular emissions, crop residue burning in neighbouring states, and other local sources.
- These restrictions will remain until the air quality shows sustained improvement, as decided by CAQM.
Exemptions and Public Projects
Essential public projects such as railways, metro, airports, defence, sanitation, and healthcare are permitted to continue under strict norms for dust and waste management.
GRAP Stages Reference
| GRAP Stage |
AQI Range |
Action Level |
| Stage I |
201–300 |
Poor |
| Stage II |
301–400 |
Very Poor |
| Stage III |
401–450 |
Severe |
| Stage IV |
>450 |
Severe Plus |
These GRAP-III restrictions constitute the most comprehensive anti-pollution action so far this season, and public advisory measures are expected to escalate if pollution persists or escalates beyond AQI 450.
Download Pdf
