New Delhi: Delhi’s air quality deteriorated sharply ahead of Diwali, with the national capital’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) climbing to 451 at 8 am on Tuesday, November 3. The reading placed the city’s air in the severe category, raising concerns over worsening pollution levels.
According to data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), several monitoring stations across Delhi recorded severe air quality, while multiple other locations remained in the very poor category.
Rohini reported the highest AQI among the listed locations at 429, followed by Punjabi Bagh at 424 and Bawana at 408. All three areas recorded severe pollution levels.
Several other parts of the city continued to experience very poor air quality. Patparganj recorded an AQI of 379, while R K Puram stood at 374 and ITO at 373. Okhla Phase-2 and Chandni Chowk both reported an AQI of 352, while Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium recorded 355 and Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) reported 328.
Some monitoring stations recorded comparatively lower pollution levels, with readings in the poor category. Indira Gandhi International Airport’s Terminal 3 registered an AQI of 287, followed by Anand Vihar at 279, Uttam Nagar at 274 and IMD Lodhi Road at 226.
Delhi Police Conducts Checks At Ghazipur Border As GRAP-II Comes Into Force
Amid the worsening air quality, Delhi Police conducted a checking drive at the Ghazipur border as vehicle-related restrictions under Stage-II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into effect.
On Monday, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage-II of GRAP across the entire National Capital Region (NCR) with immediate effect in response to rising pollution levels.
Stage-II measures have been activated alongside the existing Stage-I restrictions. Municipal corporations, traffic police and pollution control boards in Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan have been directed to step up enforcement.
The measures include daily mechanical or vacuum sweeping and water sprinkling mixed with dust suppressants along heavy-traffic corridors and congestion points. These activities will be prioritised before peak traffic hours.
Authorities will also intensify inspections and take remedial action at identified pollution hotspots and construction and demolition (C&D) sites across the NCR as part of efforts to contain the deteriorating air quality.
