As the air quality index plummeted to very poor at 371, the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect, amid a rise in air pollution. As part of the Stage 3 of the GRAP, for private vehicle owners who still drive in a BS 3 petrol car or a BS 4 diesel car, driving the vehicles in Delhi and NCR districts is out of bounds with immediate effect. However, people with disabilities are exempt from these restrictions. Moreover, non-essential diesel-operated medium goods vehicles with BS-IV or older standards are banned in the capital.
The national capital, battling smog and poor air quality since the beginning of winter, ranked third among the world’s most polluted capitals in Friday’s live rankings by Swiss group IQAir. Meanwhile, over 500 flight services were delayed at Delhi airport and dozens of trains were affected across North India as the harsh winter chill has tightened its grip on north India, including Delhi, with dense fog blanketing the region and temperatures plunging further. According to Flightradar24 data , about 145 arrivals were delayed at the national capital’s airport. Moreover, about 394 departures were also delayed at this airport. The number of delayed flights is expected to increase further.
The minimum temperature was recorded at 7 degree Celsius while the maximum temperature stood at 21.2 degree Celsius in Delhi. Palam recorded the maximum temperature of 17.2 degree Celsius while the minimum temperature stood at 6.6 degree Celsius.
According to forecasts from the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, the air quality situation is predicted to deteriorate further owing to unfavourable meteorological conditions.
“Accordingly, in an effort to prevent further deterioration of the air quality and in pursuance of the Supreme Court’s directives, the sub-committee on GRAP hereby decide to invoke ALL actions under Stage-III (‘Severe’ Air Quality of Delhi) of the extant schedule of GRAP, with immediate effect in right earnest by all the agencies concerned in Delhi-NCR, in addition to the Stage-l and ll actions already in force. Actions under stages-l II & III of the revised GRAP shall be implemented, monitored and reviewed by all the agencies concerned in the entire NCR to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further,” the CAQM said in its order. “ All implementing agencies shall keep strict vigil and intensely measures of the revised GRAP schedule. Citizens are requested to strictly adhere to the citizen charter under GRAP Stage-III,” it added.
GRAP Stage 3, which was lifted last Friday, entails a ban on non-essential construction work. The stage 3 restrictions also include a ban on non-essential construction work, Classes up to grade V are required to shift to hybrid mode and parents and students have the option to choose online education wherever available. Stage 3 also bans non-essential diesel-operated medium goods vehicles with BS-IV or older standards in Delhi.
At Delhi’s India Gandhi International Airport, over 500 flights were delayed as visibility came down to zero.At 8 am, the Palam airport in Delhi reported a 0 m visibility, while the Safdarjung Airport in New Delhi reported a 50-metre visibility. Both the airports are not used for commercial flight operations. Due to heavy fog conditions, Delhi airport issued an advisory stating that non-CAT III compliant flights would be affected.
Taking to social media X, the Delhi Airport wrote in a post “While landing and take offs continue at Delhi airport, flights that are not CAT III compliant may get affected.” The airport management asked passengers to check with their respective airlines for updated flight information, expressing regret for any inconvenience. “Passengers are requested to contact the airline concerned for updated flight information,” the post further read.The inconvenience caused to passengers is regretted.Any inconvenience caused is deeply regretted,” the post further read. Flights of many airlines, including SpiceJet, Indigo and Air India, were affected even as the Delhi airport reported an average delay of six minutes for arrival flights and 47 minutes for departure flights, as per FlightRadar24. At Kolkata airport, 17 departing flights were delayed, one was cancelled, and 36 arriving flights were also delayed.
At least 24 trains, including several long-distance services, are running late due to the foggy conditions, the Railways said.
