GRAP-3 in Delhi-NCR: Vehicle restrictions and more; what's allowed and what's not ahead of Diwali 2026

Ahead of Diwali, CAQM invoked Stage III of GRAP across Delhi-NCR as a precaution against worsening pollution. The curbs include bans on many construction activities, older vehicles and certain industrial operations.

Delhi-NCR has come under stricter pollution-control measures just days before Diwali, with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoking Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) from Friday, November 6.

The move brings fresh curbs on construction activity, older vehicles and industrial operations, while also allowing authorities to consider changes to school and office arrangements.

The restrictions were imposed as a precautionary measure amid deteriorating air quality. Delhi’s average Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 382 on Friday, in the ‘very poor’ category, although several monitoring stations recorded readings in the ‘severe’ range. Stage III measures have been added to the restrictions already in force under GRAP Stages I and II.

What is GRAP Stage III and why has it been invoked?

GRAP is an emergency framework under which authorities introduce progressively stricter measures to contain air pollution across Delhi and the National Capital Region. Under the revised framework, Stage III is associated with the ‘severe’ air-quality category. However, CAQM can invoke restrictions pre-emptively based on forecasts and the likelihood of air quality worsening.

The latest decision came despite Delhi’s average AQI remaining in the ‘very poor’ category, with the commission opting to act before pollution levels deteriorate further.

What is banned under GRAP Stage III?

1. Non-essential construction and demolition work

Non-essential construction and demolition activities have been prohibited across Delhi-NCR. The restrictions cover excavation, earthwork, piling, trenching, drilling, boring, demolition, brickwork, masonry, road construction and major repairs.

Activities such as painting, polishing, varnishing, major welding, gas-cutting and cutting or grinding tiles and stones are also restricted. The movement, loading and unloading of dust-generating materials such as cement, sand, bricks, fly ash and crushed stone face curbs, particularly on unpaved roads.

Stone crushers, mining operations and hot-mix plants that do not use approved clean fuels must remain shut.

2. Restrictions on older petrol and diesel vehicles

BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel or older light motor vehicles, including four-wheelers, are barred from operating in Delhi and five high-vehicle-density NCR districts: Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida).

Vehicles specially adapted for persons with disabilities and used for their personal travel are exempt.

Additional restrictions apply to certain goods vehicles. BS-IV and older diesel medium goods vehicles registered in Delhi are restricted, while such medium goods vehicles and light goods vehicles registered outside Delhi are not permitted to enter the capital.

3. Diesel generators and industrial operations

The use of diesel generator sets is prohibited, except for those required to provide emergency and essential services. Non-compliant industrial units, including stone crushers and hot-mix plants not using clean fuels, also face closure or operational restrictions.

What is allowed under GRAP Stage III?

1. Essential construction projects

Construction work linked to essential infrastructure projects can continue, subject to prescribed dust-control measures. Other construction activities that generate relatively less dust or pollution may also be permitted if they comply with the applicable dust-mitigation and construction-waste management norms.

2. Public transport services

Metro services and public buses can continue operating. Authorities are also expected to add Metro trips and deploy additional buses to encourage commuters to use public transport instead of private vehicles. Vehicles that are not covered by the restrictions, including eligible BS-VI, CNG and electric vehicles, can continue to operate subject to other applicable rules.

3. School and office arrangements

Schools up to Class 5 in Delhi and the NCR districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Buddha Nagar are required to conduct classes in hybrid mode, allowing students to attend either physically or online wherever feasible. Other NCR districts may also consider adopting this arrangement.

State governments and the Delhi government may decide whether public, municipal and private offices should operate with 50% of their staff physically present, with the remaining employees working from home. The Central government can take a separate decision for its employees. Private offices have also been advised to consider work-from-home or hybrid arrangements.

About the Author

Garvit Bhirani is a journalist based in Gurugram. He is a Deputy Chief Content Producer at LiveMint, where he covers national and international news stories, focusing on accuracy and compelling storytelling for readers. <br><br> With a total of six years of experience in journalism, he has previously worked with Vaco Binary Semantics for Google, taking on the role of news curation lead, and reported from the field on health, education, and agriculture stories for 101reporters and News9. He has also served as a content editor for entertainment and news media organisations. <br><br> Garvit holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in journalism and mass communication from Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and Gurugram University, respectively. During college days, he joined India’s only non-profit student journalism network, where he anchored daily news updates and produced his own weekly show called ‘Data Fix’. <br><br> He was selected for the YES Foundation Media for Social Change Fellowship in Delhi, the Talking Data to the Fourth Pillar residential workshop, and the VOICE Fellowship in Pune. <br><br> He holds certificates in COVID-19-verification reporting, data journalism, food & agriculture, tech policy, media literacy and countering misinformation, and tackling election disinformation courses from Thomson Foundation, IndiaSpend, The Dialogue, US Mission in India, and AFP. <br><br> He can be reached on <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/garvit-bhirani">LinkedIn</a> or on <a href="https://x.com/GarvitBhirani">@garvitbhirani</a> on X