Delhi’s air has plunged back into the danger zone, forcing authorities to invoke GRAP Stage I emergency measures as the city’s Air Quality Index hit 244–246 on October 21 — and Chandni Chowk recorded a “very poor” 306 on Thursday morning. In response, the Delhi Metro will run 20 extra trips on weekdays starting October 22 to cut vehicular emissions.
According to monitoring data, the capital’s pollution spike follows the familiar post-monsoon pattern: falling temperatures, stagnant winds and seasonal crop burning combine to trap a toxic cocktail over the city. Officials said the Graded Response Action Plan’s first stage triggers curbs on polluting activities across Delhi-NCR.
Metro Adds 20 Extra Weekday Trips
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation announced the additional services to absorb commuters who might otherwise drive, a key lever in the Stage I playbook. Extra trips will run through the morning and evening peaks on weekdays, officials said, with the move effective immediately from October 22.
Stage I measures also include strict dust control at construction sites, a ban on open burning of waste, and intensified road sweeping and water sprinkling. Enforcement teams have been deployed across hotspots, and officials warned that violations will draw heavy fines.
AQI Climbing Toward Severe
With Chandni Chowk already breaching 300 — the threshold for “very poor” air — health experts warned that the elderly, children and people with respiratory conditions should limit outdoor exertion. Hospitals typically report a surge in asthma and bronchitis cases during Delhi’s smog season.
Authorities said Stage II curbs will kick in automatically if the AQI deteriorates further into the “very poor” range across the city. For now, Delhi’s 30 million residents face another winter of grey skies — and officials are betting that fewer cars on the road can keep the worst at bay.
Doctors advised residents to wear N95 masks outdoors during peak smog hours and to run air purifiers indoors. Schools have not been ordered shut under Stage I, but principals were told to curtail outdoor activities. The air quality commission said it would review the data daily and escalate without delay if pollution worsens.
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