GRAP-3 curbs imposed in Delhi-NCR as air quality worsens

An anti-smog vehicle sprinkles water to curb air pollution amid deteriorating air quality in New Delhi on November 6, 2026. | Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Friday (November 6, 2026) announced Stage three of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi and NCR, as the air quality edged closer to the ‘severe’ category in Delhi.GRAP is a set of short-term emergency measures aimed at reducing air pollution and is divided into four stages, depending on the level of air pollution that exists at a particular time or is predicted for the near future.A thick layer of smog hung over the national capital on Friday (November 6, 2026) as the air quality deteriorated sharply and edged closer to the ‘severe’ category, with the overall AQI settling at 391. Of the 59 monitoring stations across the city, 30 recorded ‘severe’ air quality at 9 a.m., while the remaining were in the ‘very poor’ category.Under Stage 3 of the GRAP, there will be a ban on the plying of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel or below emission standard LMVs (four-wheelers) in Delhi and also in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar.There will be a ban on dust-generating construction and demolition (C&D) activities in the entire NCR, with some exceptions.Also, classes of students up to grade 5 will be shifted to ‘hybrid mode’ in Delhi and also in the districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar.It may be noted that the Delhi government had banned C&D activities are already banned in Delhi from November 1 to January 31.Similarly, last week, the CAQM also banned dust-generating demolition and outdoor civil construction activities in Delhi and NCR from November 5 to 20.(With PTI inputs) Published - November 06, 2026 05:13 pm IST