Covered in smog, Delhi struggles with 'very poor' air quality; a summary of NCR AQI readings

Delhiites woke up to yet another smog-blanketed morning on Friday with the overall air quality index (AQI) measured at 373, marking some improvement from levels recorded in the severe range (above 400) over the past few days. On Sunday, the national capital's overall AQI reading had crossed the 'severe plus' mark, which starts at 501, triggering the enforcement of Level 4 GRAP or Graded Response Action Plan restrictions, including a complete ban on the use of private BS-III petrol or BS-IV diesel vehicles as well as the entry of most diesel-powered commercial goods carriers with few exceptions. Here are key takeaways from AQI readings recorded in several neighborhoods in and around the national capital region. 

First things first, here is a list of the 10 areas where the quality of air remains in the 'severe' range: 

• Anand Vihar
• Bawana
• Jahangirpuri
• Mundka
• Nehru Nagar
• Shadipur
• Sonia Vihar
• Vivek Vihar
• Wazirpur
• Rohini

Here are details of AQI readings in the national capital, as of 12 pm, Friday:

Delhi Area-wise AQI Readings  

Gurugram Area-wise AQI Readings

Noida Area-wise AQI Readings

GRAP IV Restrictions

With effect from 8 am on November 18, Delhi adopted an eight-point action plan to battle air pollution. Here is a summary of the key restrictions: 

• No entry of truck traffic into Delhi (except for those carrying essential commodities/ or providing essential services); all LNG, CNG, electric or BS-VI diesel trucks permitted 
• No entry of light commercial vehicles registered outside Delhi, except electric, CNG or BS-VI diesel vehicles; those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services are also exempt 
• Ban on plying of Delhi-registered BS-IV and below diesel-operated medium goods vehicles (MGVs) and heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) in Delhi, except those carrying essential commodities or providing essential services 
• Ban on construction or demolition activities (also applicable in GRAP Stage III); additionally, Sage IV restrictions cover linear public projects such as highways, roads, flyovers, overbridges, power transmission, pipelines, telecommunication  
• NCR state/UT governments may decide on discontinuing physical classes for VI-IX and XI Standards, and conduct lessons online 
• They may also decide on allowing public, municipal or private offices to work at 50 per cent strength with the remaining staff working from home 
• Central government may take appropriate decisions on permitting work from home for employees in central government offices 
• State/UT governments may consider additional emergency measures such as closing colleges and other educational institutions, and banning non‑emergency commercial activities, and allowing vehicles to ply on roads under an 'odd-even' scheme (based on registration numbers)