New Delhi, October 22, 2026: Authorities have stepped up pollution-control measures across Delhi-NCR after air quality deteriorated in the national capital, prompting the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to implement Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Alongside the restrictions, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) has announced 20 additional train trips on weekdays from October 22. The move aims to encourage commuters to use public transport instead of private vehicles as authorities work to limit further deterioration in air quality.
The measures come as Delhi prepares for the seasonal increase in pollution that often affects the capital and surrounding areas during the post-monsoon and winter months.
Delhi’s AQI Enters the Poor Category
According to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s official statement issued on October 21, Delhi recorded a daily average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 244 at 2 pm, rising to 245 at 4 pm.
The readings placed the city in the poor air-quality category. The previous day’s AQI was reported at 179, which falls in the moderate category.
Under India’s AQI classification system, readings between 201 and 300 fall within the poor category. At these levels, prolonged exposure can cause breathing discomfort, particularly among people with respiratory or heart conditions.
The figures cited above relate specifically to October 21. They should not be interpreted as Delhi’s live AQI for October 22, because pollution levels can change throughout the day and differ between monitoring stations.
Residents can check the latest monitoring data through the official website of the Central Pollution Control Board
Why Has CAQM Implemented GRAP Stage 1?
The CAQM’s GRAP sub-committee reviewed Delhi-NCR’s air-quality situation alongside meteorological forecasts before activating Stage 1 measures across the entire National Capital Region on October 21.
The decision requires the relevant agencies to implement, monitor and review the prescribed actions to prevent air quality from deteriorating further.
GRAP is a phased framework designed to trigger pollution-control measures according to the severity of air pollution.
Stage 1 applies when Delhi’s AQI is in the poor category, between 201 and 300. Its measures focus on controlling dust, enforcing existing environmental rules and addressing other sources of pollution.
Key measures include:
- Enforcing dust-control requirements at construction and demolition sites.
- Ensuring construction materials and waste are properly covered during storage and transportation.
- Strengthening road-cleaning operations and undertaking water sprinkling where required.
- Preventing open waste burning.
- Enforcing applicable vehicle-emission and pollution-control regulations.
- Monitoring industrial emissions and compliance with environmental standards.
The measures are intended to reduce pollution sources before conditions worsen and stricter stages become necessary. The precise requirements depend on the applicable GRAP schedule and official directions.
Importantly, the implementation of GRAP Stage 1 does not mean that all vehicles or all construction activities across Delhi-NCR are automatically banned. Specific restrictions depend on the relevant provisions and subsequent government orders.
Delhi Metro to Operate 20 Additional Weekday Trips
The DMRC announced that it would operate 20 additional train trips on weekdays from Thursday, October 22, to encourage more commuters to choose the Metro over personal vehicles.
The announcement followed the implementation of GRAP Stage 1 across Delhi-NCR.
The additional services are intended to support public transport use and help reduce dependence on private vehicles.
Fewer individual vehicle journeys could help limit traffic-related emissions. However, the actual environmental benefit will depend on whether commuters switch to public transport and how much private vehicle use consequently declines.
The Metro operator has also announced intensified anti-pollution measures at its construction sites and surrounding areas.
According to reports quoting the DMRC, these efforts include:
- Removing accumulated road dust around construction areas.
- Clearing garbage from footpaths and road medians.
- Inspecting construction sites and adjoining roads.
- Ensuring construction materials are properly covered.
- Checking that wheel-washing facilities for vehicles leaving construction sites are operational.
The DMRC has also reported installing more than 250 anti-smog and mist guns at construction sites, Metro stations and office buildings. These measures supplement its existing dust-control and environmental monitoring activities.
Commuters can check official service announcements through the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation website.
What Is Contributing to Delhi-NCR’s Pollution?
Air pollution in Delhi-NCR results from a combination of emission sources and weather conditions.
Vehicle exhaust, construction dust, industrial emissions, waste burning and other urban activities can contribute to deteriorating air quality.
Seasonal changes can also affect how pollutants disperse. Wind speed, atmospheric conditions and the movement of polluted air influence the concentration of pollutants near the ground.
Smoke from crop-residue burning in neighbouring states can contribute to pollution episodes under suitable weather conditions. However, its contribution varies over time and should not be assumed to be the sole cause of a particular day’s AQI.
Establishing the contribution of individual sources requires emissions data, meteorological information and scientific analysis.
The CAQM’s decision to implement GRAP Stage 1 reflects concern about the overall air-quality situation and the need for preventive action.
How Could the Measures Affect Residents?
Poor air quality can affect daily life, especially for children, older adults and people with asthma or other respiratory and cardiovascular conditions.
The additional Metro services may offer commuters another option for travelling across the capital. Meanwhile, construction-dust controls, road cleaning and enforcement measures are intended to address several sources of pollution.
Residents can take practical steps to limit exposure:
- Check local AQI readings before planning outdoor activities.
- Reduce prolonged or strenuous outdoor exercise when air quality is poor.
- Follow medical advice if they have asthma or other respiratory conditions.
- Seek medical attention if they experience significant breathing difficulties.
- Consider public transport instead of private vehicles where practical.
- Avoid burning rubbish, leaves or other waste in the open.
Individual precautions can help reduce exposure, but lasting improvements require coordinated action by authorities, businesses and residents.
What Happens Next?
The CAQM and implementing agencies will need to monitor pollution levels and weather forecasts to determine whether the existing measures are sufficient.
If air quality deteriorates further, authorities may consider additional action under the applicable GRAP framework. Any such change should be confirmed through an official order rather than inferred from AQI readings alone.
The additional Metro trips and intensified dust-control measures represent part of the immediate response. Their overall impact will depend on implementation, enforcement and changes in travel behaviour.
Delhi-NCR’s recurring pollution problem requires sustained efforts beyond short-term emergency measures. Cleaner transport, better waste management, effective construction-dust control and tighter enforcement of emission standards will remain important to improving air quality.
For residents, the immediate priority is to stay informed about local air quality, follow official advisories and take sensible precautions while authorities continue their pollution-control efforts.
