Delhi GRAP explained: How the pollution plan is activated and what it means for you?

Delhi pollution and GRAP

With air quality sliding to the “poor” category days before Diwali, the Commission for Air Quality Management in National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has triggered the first stage of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR).

According to an HT report, the decision came on Tuesday after the city’s Air Quality Index (AQI) touched 211. Forecasts from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) indicate the situation is unlikely to improve significantly in the coming days, raising alarm as pollution levels typically spike around the festive season.

What Stage I of GRAP means

GRAP is a legally mandated, tiered emergency framework designed to combat air pollution. It was first approved by the Supreme Court of India in 2016 and formally notified in 2017. The plan outlines specific interventions to be activated in phases as air quality deteriorates.

Stage I, now in force, is implemented when the AQI falls between 201 and 300, categorised as “Poor”. At this level, the CAQM has instructed implementing agencies across Delhi-NCR to enforce 27 targeted measures aimed at curbing dust, vehicular emissions and other local sources of pollution.

How GRAP works: Stages and measures



The plan has four escalating stages corresponding to air quality categories defined under the Central Pollution Control Board AQI scale. Each stage mandates specific measures to curb pollution from multiple sources — vehicles, industries, construction and dust.

A major emphasis is on dust control. Agencies have been ordered to ramp up mechanised road sweeping and water sprinkling on arterial roads. The use of anti-smog guns at large construction sites has been increased.

Older, more polluting vehicles face restrictions. Diesel vehicles more than 10 years old and petrol vehicles older than 15 years are banned from plying. Traffic management will be tightened at major intersections and motorists are required to switch off engines at red lights to reduce idling emissions.

Authorities are stepping up monitoring of Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates, with fines or impounding for violators. Open burning of garbage, leaves, biomass and municipal waste has been strictly prohibited, as per CAQM’s directions cited by HT.

Crackdown on construction and fuel use



In line with GRAP’s first stage, roadside eateries are barred from using coal or wood as fuel. Labour-intensive construction work without adequate dust-control measures is prohibited. All construction sites must ensure proper waste handling and dust suppression.

Industries, including brick kilns in the NCR, are required to operate only with approved fuels. Non-destined truck traffic for Delhi must be diverted through the Eastern and Western Peripheral Expressways — a directive based on an earlier Supreme Court order.

The use of firecrackers, a major source of seasonal spikes in particulate matter, has also been banned as a pre-emptive measure. Offices have been encouraged to promote carpooling among employees to reduce vehicular congestion and emissions.

Why GRAP matters every winter in Delhi-NCR



Delhi’s air typically worsens during October and November due to a mix of factors: falling temperatures, stagnant wind conditions, vehicle exhaust, industrial emissions, local dust and crop stubble burning in neighbouring states.

GRAP is meant to provide a structured, escalatory response as pollution levels climb — moving from Stage I (Poor) to Stage IV (Severe+) if required. Each stage brings stricter curbs on polluting activities, ranging from restrictions on construction to potential school closures and vehicle entry bans in the highest tier.

The CAQM has said it may escalate to higher stages if forecasts indicate further deterioration.

Enforcement challenges and seasonal battle

While the plan helps coordinate multiple agencies, experts have noted that GRAP remains largely reactive rather than preventive. It does not address deeper structural sources such as crop burning, nor does it fully overcome enforcement challenges across multiple jurisdictions.

Nevertheless, the activation of GRAP-I is widely viewed as the official start of Delhi’s annual battle with toxic air, with successive stages likely in the coming weeks if pollution continues to rise.

Way forward: Policy experts and environmental researchers suggest:

-Strengthening year-round emission controls, not just during winter.
-Preemptive activation of measures based on forecasts.
-Better inter-state coordination, especially on crop burning.
-Regular revision of thresholds and measures to reflect current conditions.
-Stronger public communication for compliance and awareness.