The Delhi Metro will run for extra 20 trips across its network from November 3 in view of the measures taken by pollution control authorities on Thursday. This is to encourage more people to use public transport in Delhi and its neighbouring cities, officials said.
The Air Quality Index (AQI level) on Friday morning in Delhi remained in ‘hazardous’ category, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) said. The AQI at Indira Gandhi International Airport was recorded at 473, the levels is Dwarka sector 8 was 480, ITO recorded 433 AQI, 438 in Lodhi Road, 486 in RK Puram and over 500 in Anand Vihar.
The Centre’s pollution control panel on Thursday imposed the Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) that is implemented in the region during the winter season.
“In view of the implementation of the GRAP-III stage to combat pollution in Delhi, the DMRC will be further adding 20 extra trips across its network starting tomorrow i.e, 3rd November 2023 (Friday),” the DMRC said in a statement.
The Delhi Metro — since the enforcement of GRAP-II — has been running 40 additional trips on weekdays (Monday-Friday) from October 25.
DMRC’s statement further said, “Thus, from tomorrow, the DMRC will be running a total of 60 additional trips as part of its measures taken under GRAP to encourage more and more people to use public transport in Delhi-NCR.”
Meanwhile, Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday will chair a meeting of all departments on rising air pollution levels and implementation of GRAP-III.
As the Stage-III of the pollution control plan came into action, non-essential construction work in Delhi-NCR and the entry of diesel trucks into the national capital have also been banned.
The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR & Adjoining Areas (CAQM), in its order, said the air quality is expected to deteriorate further owing to the highly unfavourable meteorological and climatic conditions.
The order read, “The Sub-committee observed that the AQI of Delhi since 10 AM of November 2, 2023 is on sharp increase and at 4 PM the average AQI for Delhi on date recorded as 392. Further, the average AQI for Delhi at 5 PM stood at 402 which is only expected to increase further owing to the highly unfavorable meteorological and climatic conditions.”
The restrictions imposed amid the situation also includes ban on any kind of demolition work, all structural construction work (fabrication and welding operations), movement of vehicles on unpaved roads, etc.
GRAP categorises actions into four stages: Stage I – ‘Poor’ (AQI 201-300); Stage II – ‘Very Poor’ (AQI 301-400); Stage III – ‘Severe’ (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV – ‘Severe Plus’ (AQI >450). Stage III of GRAP involves a complete halt on construction and demolition work except for essential government projects, mining, and stone crushing.
(With PTI inputs)
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