New GRAP Rules in Delhi; Restrictions in NCR October 2026: How AQI will decide car entry - Where to check updates daily
Under the revised GRAP framework, restrictions tighten as Delhi-NCR’s AQI worsens. Stage III limits certain BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel cars, while Stage IV adds stricter curbs. Check daily AQI and GRAP status via SAMEER and CAQM.
Delhi-NCR's revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) outlines four stages of pollution-related restrictions, with stricter measures activated as air quality deteriorates. Haryana's Sonipat district is included in the affected regions, along with Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budha Nagar. Noida, a part of Gautam Budha Nagar, is also covered.
Car owners need to understand the revised GRAP framework and how to check if they can drive into Delhi. The framework divides Delhi's air quality into four stages, with restrictions triggered based on forecasts, rather than waiting for Delhi's AQI to reach a specific threshold. Stage III, for instance, comes into effect when Delhi's AQI is between 401-450, imposing restrictions on BS-III petrol, BS-IV diesel or below-standard Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) in Delhi and five high-vehicle-density NCR districts.
Stage IV involves stricter measures if Delhi's AQI exceeds 450, including restrictions on heavy goods vehicles entering Delhi. While AQI determines the pollution category and corresponding GRAP stage, CAQM decides when a stage is invoked. Car owners must check their vehicle's fuel type and BS classification, not just its age, to determine if they fall under the restricted category. Additionally, the restrictions from earlier stages remain in place once a higher stage is invoked.
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