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. 

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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  

Area AQI Category
Jahangirpuri 430 Severe
Nehru Nagar 423 Severe
Wazirpur 417 Severe
Anand Vihar 416 Severe
Bawana 414 Severe
Vivek Vihar 407 Severe
Mundka 406 Severe
Shadipur 405 Severe
Sonia Vihar 404 Severe
Rohini 402 Severe
Ashok Vihar 400 Very Poor
Punjabi Bagh 399 Very Poor
Alipur 394 Very Poor
Narela 390 Very Poor
Dwarka-Sector 8  388 Very Poor
Patparganj 388 Very Poor
Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range 387 Very Poor
Okhla Phase-2 386 Very Poor
Burari Crossing 385 Very Poor
R K Puram 385 Very Poor
Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium 381 Very Poor
Chandni Chowk, Delhi - IITM 378 Very Poor
Aya Nagar 372 Very Poor
DTU 370 Very Poor
Sirifort 370 Very Poor
Mandir Marg 367 Very Poor
IGI Airport (T3) 366 Very Poor
Pusa 363 Very Poor
North Campus, DU 362 Very Poor
ITO 360 Very Poor
Najafgarh 358 Very Poor
Pusa 356 Very Poor
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium 354 Very Poor
Sri Aurobindo Marg 353 Very Poor
CRRI Mathura Road 350 Very Poor
Lodhi Road, Delhi - IITM 337 Very Poor
NSIT Dwarka 337 Very Poor
IHBAS, Dilshad Garden 328 Very Poor
Lodhi Road 285 Poor

Gurugram Area-wise AQI Readings

Area AQI at 12 noon Category
NISE Gwal Pahari, Gurugram 313 Very Poor
Sector-51, Gurugram 296 Poor
Teri Gram, Gurugram 280 Poor
Vikas Sadan, Gurugram 270 Poor

Noida Area-wise AQI Readings

Area AQI at 12 noon Category
Sector - 62, Noida 342 Very Poor
Sector-1, Noida 285 Poor
Sector-116, Noida 276 Poor
Knowledge Park - V, Greater Noida 273 Poor
Sector - 125, Noida 260 Poor
Knowledge Park - III, Greater Noida 217 Poor

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)