New Delhi, 16 November 2024: The Delhi government imposed a series of restrictions on Friday as the city faced a “severe” air pollution crisis. Under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), the government banned private BS III petrol and BS IV diesel vehicles, prohibited the entry of interstate non-electric-CNG buses, and halted certain construction activities.
Also, government offices saw staggered work timings to help reduce traffic congestion, all aimed at mitigating the impact of the hazardous air quality.
At 9 am, the air quality index (AQI) in Delhi stood at 411, falling within the “severe” category. However, by 4 pm, with wind speeds increasing, the AQI dropped to 396, still in the “very poor” range, according to official data. Delhi’s Environment Minister Gopal Rai expressed optimism, stating that air quality was expected to improve further on Saturday as wind speeds rise.
“Conditions will continue to improve with stronger winds tomorrow,” Rai said during a press briefing. The Delhi government has also taken several other steps to combat the crisis, including promoting public transportation. To address the pollution, 106 shuttle buses will be deployed, and the Delhi Metro will add 60 extra trips daily. Rai added that 40 dedicated shuttle buses will transport government officials across the city, discouraging the use of private vehicles.
In addition to the vehicle restrictions, private construction and demolition activities have been banned, while essential government construction projects will continue. Violations of the vehicle bans will incur penalties of Rs 20,000. The Transport department has mobilized 84 teams, along with 280 extra personnel, to enforce the bans, Rai confirmed.
Chief Minister Atishi also announced staggered office timings to ease the burden on traffic, with central government offices open from 9 am to 5:30 pm, Delhi government offices from 10 am to 6:30 pm, and Municipal Corporation of Delhi offices from 8:30 am to 5 pm.
The city’s schools will shift to online classes for students up to grade 5 starting after the weekend, as pollution levels remain high. Several private schools have already started using apps and smart boards to manage the transition.
Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Skymet Weather Services, explained that the improved air quality on Friday was due to wind speeds of 8 to 12 km/h. However, he noted that the AQI is expected to remain in the “very poor” range on Saturday, albeit showing some improvement.
According to data from the Sameer app, which monitors air quality across 39 stations in Delhi, 18 stations reported “severe” air quality by the afternoon, down from 27 in the morning.
