CAQM revokes GRAP 3 curbs after AQI improves
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas on Friday revoked curbs imposed under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage 3 following improvement in air quality.
Restrictions on vehicles imposed during Stage 3 have been lifted as well. BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers can return to the roads, while the ban on non-essential diesel-run medium goods vehicles has been withdrawn. Physical classes for students up to Class five, which had shifted to hybrid mode during Stage 3, can fully resume.
The Commission, however, clarified that construction and demolition project sites that were issued specific closure orders due to violations or non-compliance with statutory directions, rules or guidelines will, under no circumstances, be allowed to resume operations without an explicit order to this effect from the Commission.
In a statement, the CAQM said, “The AQI of Delhi, which was recorded as 380 on Thursday, has significantly improved and recorded 236 at 4 pm on Friday, exhibiting a trend. Keeping in view the prevailing trend of air quality, the CAQM Sub-Committee on GRAP decides to revoke all actions as envisaged under Stage-3 of the extant GRAP, with immediate effect, in the entire NCR”. “As of now, Stage- I, II & III of extant schedule of GRAP are in force vide order dated 14.1O.2025, 19.1O.2O25 & 13.12.2025, respectively,” it said.
Reacting to this, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said the improvement was the result of sustained field-level action across agencies.
Government data shows that large-scale enforcement and clean-up operations were carried out across the city in the last 24 hours. A total of 6,596 challans were issued for vehicular emission violations, while 99 light motor vehicles were penalised for breaching entry restrictions. Authorities also worked to ease traffic bottlenecks, decongesting 40 congestion points on major roads.
Civic agencies reported the removal of 12,000 metric tonnes of garbage from various zones of the city. To control dust pollution, 6,261 kilometres of roads were mechanically swept. In addition, 2,315 metric tonnes of construction and demolition (C&D) waste were lifted and transported for scientific disposal.
The CAQM order said, “As per the dynamic model and forecasts for meteorological conditions and air quality index made available by IMD/ IITM, the average AQI of Delhi is likely to remain in ‘Poor’ to ‘Very Poor’ category in the coming days. Keeping in view the disruptive nature of restrictions under Stage-III of GRAP impacting a large number of stakeholders and public as well as considering the trend of improvement in the average AQI of Delhi, the GRAP Sub-Committee unanimously decides to revoke Stage-III of the extant schedule of GRAP (modified on 21.11.2025) in the entire NCR, with immediate effect.”
“While GRAP Stage-III is being revoked, keeping in view the winter season when weather conditions may not be always be favourable and in order to ensure that the AQI levels do not slip further, citizens are requested to strictly adhere to the citizen charter under Stages II and I of the extant schedule of GRAP,” reads the order. “The Sub-Committee shall be keeping a close watch on the air quality scenario and review the situation from time to time for further appropriate decision depending upon the Air Quality in Delhi and forecast made by IMD/IITM,” it added.
The CAQM clarified that construction and demolition sites shut for violations will not be allowed to resume operations unless expressly permitted by the commission. Data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) showed Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI at 380, remaining in the ‘very poor’ category.
As many as 26 monitoring stations reported ‘very poor’ air quality, while 11 stations recorded ‘severe’ levels. Anand Vihar emerged as the most polluted area, with an AQI of 423. Area-wise AQI readings were: Dwarka Sector 8 (338), IGI Airport (259), ITO (CPCB) (326), JLN Stadium (362), Mundka (347) and NSIT Dwarka (CPCB) (411).
