GRAP 1 in Delhi: Impact on NCR offices? WFH or work as usual? Know about restrictions and bans today

Delhi-NCR has imposed its first seasonal GRAP Stage I restrictions as air quality worsened to poor, with AQI at 244 on 21 October. Measures target dust, vehicle emissions and waste burning.

Pollution restrictions have been imposed across Delhi-NCR under GRAP Stage I, following worsening air quality. These are the season’s first GRAP curbs, targeting dust, vehicle emissions and waste burning.

Delhi’s AQI reached 244 on 21 October at 2 PM, entering the “poor” category. It stood at 179, in the “moderate” category, on 20 October. CAQM said forecasts indicated poor air quality would continue over the coming days.

Mandatory WFH?

Offices are not subject to a mandatory work-from-home (WFH) order at this stage. For office workers, Stage I does not require reduced attendance or changes to office timings.

Quick answers to key questions

•5

QUESTIONS

No. Stage I does not require reduced office attendance or changes to office timings. Employers are encouraged to arrange shared commuting, and employees are advised to use public transport or carpool.

Delhi’s AQI rose to 244 on 21 October, up from 179 the previous day, and entered the ‘poor’ category. GRAP Stage I applies when AQI is between 201 and 300, with forecasts indicating poor air quality would continue.

Yes, if sites follow dust-control rules and cover construction materials and waste during storage and transport. Projects of 500 square metres or more must meet registration and monitoring requirements; work at non-compliant projects cannot proceed.

No general ban on private cars is imposed. Authorities must enforce PUC requirements and existing restrictions on overaged vehicles; visibly polluting vehicles may be seized or penalised.

Open burning of biomass and municipal waste is prohibited, as is using coal or firewood in tandoors at hotels, restaurants and open eateries. Those eateries must use electricity, gas or other clean fuels, and diesel generators cannot be used as regular power sources.

Employers are encouraged to arrange shared commuting for staff to reduce road traffic. Employees are advised to use public transport or carpool. Public transport services should expand.

Mandatory staggered timings for specified government offices appear under Stage II. Under Stage III, governments must decide whether to allow offices to operate at 50% attendance.

The remaining staff would work from home under such arrangements. Stage I itself contains neither requirement.

Other restrictions and bans

Construction and demolition activities can continue, provided sites follow dust control rules. Materials and waste must remain covered, including during transport.

Projects covering at least 500 square metres must meet registration and monitoring requirements. Work at projects failing these requirements cannot proceed.

Open burning of biomass and municipal waste is banned. Illegal dumping of waste in open areas is also prohibited. Authorities must collect waste regularly and prevent fires at landfill sites.

Vehicles must follow pollution rules, with stricter checks on Pollution Under Control (PUC) certificates. Visibly polluting vehicles face seizure, maximum penalties, or both. Existing restrictions on overaged petrol and diesel vehicles must be enforced.

Stage I does not impose a general ban on private cars. However, specified interstate and intercity buses face restrictions in Delhi-NCR. Only electric, CNG and BS-VI diesel buses qualify from the listed states.

These include Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Jammu and Kashmir is also covered.

Hotels, restaurants and open eateries cannot use coal or firewood in tandoors. They must use electricity, gas or other clean fuels. Industries must follow emission limits and use approved fuels.

Diesel generators cannot be used as regular electricity sources. Their operation remains subject to capacity limits, emission controls and emergency exemptions. Existing court orders concerning firecrackers must also be enforced.

GRAP Stage I covers AQI readings between 201 and 300. Higher stages introduce additional restrictions as pollution worsens.

Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said authorities were implementing an 11-point action plan. He identified dust control, electric vehicles and vehicle emissions among the government’s priorities.

About the Author

Sounak Mukhopadhyay covers trending news, sports and entertainment for LiveMint. His reporting focuses on fast-moving stories, box office performance, digital culture and major cricket developments. He combines real-time updates with clear context for everyday readers. <br><br> Sounak brings newsroom experience across breaking news, explainers and long-form features. He has a strong emphasis on accuracy, verification and responsible storytelling. His work tracks audience behaviour, celebrity influence and the business of sport and cinema. He helps readers understand why a story matters beyond the headline. <br><br> Sounak has contributed to widely read digital publications. He continues to build a body of journalism shaped by consistency, speed and editorial clarity. He is particularly interested in the intersection of media, popular culture and public conversation in contemporary India. <br><br> At LiveMint, he writes daily coverage as well as analytical pieces that interpret numbers, trends and cultural moments in accessible language. His approach prioritises factual depth, balanced framing and reader trust. The reporting aligns with modern newsroom standards of transparency and credibility. <br><br> Outside daily reporting, he explores storytelling across formats including podcasts, filmmaking and narrative non-fiction. Through his journalism, Sounak aims to document the rhythms of modern entertainment and sports while maintaining rigorous editorial integrity. <br><br> Sounak continues to develop audience-focused journalism that connects speed with substance in a rapidly-changing information environment. His work seeks clarity, trust and lasting public value in every story he reports.