Explained: Why CAQM Invoked Stage-III of GRAP in Delhi-NCR

In Environment
November 12, 2025
Deepshikha Singh
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Calm winds and a stable atmosphere turned Delhi’s air toxic again, pushing the city’s AQI into the “Severe” category. Therefore, CAQM immediately activated Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan, halting construction and mining activities and limiting the use of older vehicles across NCR.

New Delhi (ABC Live): Delhi woke up on 11 November 2025 to a dense, unrelenting haze.
By mid-morning, visibility had dropped sharply, and the Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed beyond 400 — a level that threatens everyone’s health.
Although pollution peaks often follow Diwali, this spike occurred without major firecracker residue. Instead, it stemmed from calm winds, stagnant air, and temperature inversion, which trapped pollutants close to the ground.
Recognising the severity, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) moved quickly and imposed Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the entire National Capital Region (NCR).
This emergency decision aims to prevent further deterioration and safeguard public health before the situation escalates.

The Trigger: AQI 425 and Meteorological Stagnation

At 9 AM, Delhi’s average AQI touched 425, placing it firmly in the “Severe” zone (401–450).
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) explained that calm surface winds, a stable lower atmosphere, and inversion layers worked together to trap pollutants.
Because the air failed to disperse emissions from vehicles and construction, pollution levels rose steadily.
Consequently, CAQM had no choice but to escalate the response and trigger Stage-III under GRAP.

Stage-III of GRAP: The 9-Point Emergency Action Plan

Stage-III, which targets “Severe” air quality, introduces stricter measures in addition to those already active under Stages I and II.
Therefore, the following nine actions now apply across Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar.

(1) Construction & Demolition (C&D) Ban

Authorities have stopped high-dust construction and demolition activities immediately.
These include:

Earthwork, piling, and demolition
Brickwork, plastering, painting, tiling, and road repair
Operation of batching plants and major welding or gas-cutting

However, certain essential projects — such as metro, railway, airport, defence, hospital, and linear public works — may continue, provided they follow dust-control and waste-management rules without exception.

(2) & (3) Mining and Stone-Crushing

Moreover, all mining and stone-crushing units in NCR have been ordered to close, as they generate large amounts of airborne dust.

(4) – (6) Vehicle Restrictions

To further reduce vehicular emissions, governments have taken decisive steps:

BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars are banned in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddh Nagar (except for vehicles modified for persons with disabilities).
Delhi-registered BS-IV diesel MGVs cannot operate unless they transport essential goods.
BS-IV diesel LCVs from outside Delhi cannot enter unless they deliver essential commodities.

These coordinated actions aim to minimize on-road pollution until wind conditions improve.

(7) School Classes

Furthermore, schools up to Class V must now conduct lessons in hybrid mode — combining online and physical classes.
NCR governments may extend the same rule to other districts if the air quality continues to deteriorate.

(8) & (9) Workplace Measures

To reduce traffic during rush hours and improve commuting efficiency:

NCR and Delhi governments will stagger office timings for public and municipal offices.
The Central Government, meanwhile, is considering similar timing adjustments for its offices across Delhi-NCR.

These changes will not only limit vehicle congestion but also help lower hourly emissions during peak pollution periods.

Citizen Advisory under Stage-III

CAQM urged residents to act collectively and adopt cleaner habits.
Therefore, citizens should:

Walk or cycle for short trips instead of driving.
Use public transport or share rides whenever possible.
Work from home when their job allows.
Avoid burning coal or wood for heating.
Provide electric heaters to outdoor staff to prevent open fires.
Combine errands to reduce unnecessary travel.

By following these steps, residents can meaningfully support the regional clean-air effort.

Enforcement & Review

Pollution Control Boards and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) will strictly enforce all measures.
Meanwhile, CAQM’s Sub-Committee continues to review real-time data from IMD and IITM forecasts.
If the situation worsens, it may escalate to Stage-IV (“Severe Plus Emergency”) — a step that involves even stricter controls such as halting truck entry and shutting down non-essential industries.
Therefore, compliance during Stage-III remains critical to avoid harsher restrictions later.

Why ABC Live Is Publishing This Now

Delhi’s annual smog crisis repeats every November, yet each year the underlying triggers shift slightly.
This year’s early spike shows how vulnerable the region’s air system has become even before the full onset of winter.
Hence, this ABC Live report explains the scientific and policy reasons behind CAQM’s decision, clarifies citizen responsibilities, and situates Delhi’s emergency response within India’s broader Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) framework.