Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Delhi-NCR Tightens GRAP Rules, Bringing Vehicle Curbs Earlier
Delhi-NCR has updated its plan for dealing with air pollution.
Some rules that used to start at a later pollution stage will now start sooner.
From Stage I, certain buses entering the region must be electric, CNG or BS-VI diesel vehicles.
This rule covers buses from several neighbouring states and removes an earlier exception for some tourist-permit vehicles.
Restrictions on diesel generators also start at Stage I. Some older goods vehicles carrying essential supplies no longer get an exemption during Stages III and IV.
Stage III rules for certain older passenger vehicles now also cover Sonipat.
Pothole repairs will still be allowed during Stage III, even though construction and demolition remain restricted.
Large construction and demolition sites will have to show their PM10 and PM2.5 readings.
CAQM moved restrictions on certain inter-city and inter-state buses from Stage II to Stage I.
Covered buses from eight named states must be electric, CNG or BS-VI diesel to ply in Delhi-NCR.
Diesel-generator restrictions also move from Stage II to Stage I.
BS-IV goods vehicles carrying essential commodities lose an earlier exemption under Stages III and IV.
Stage III restrictions for certain older passenger vehicles extend to Sonipat; pothole repairs remain allowed.
- Who
- The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) revised Delhi-NCR's GRAP.
- What
- The revised rules bring some vehicle and diesel-generator restrictions into force earlier, among other changes.
- When
- The article gives no specific date for the revised rules to take effect.
- Where
- Delhi-NCR, including Sonipat for specified Stage III vehicle restrictions.
- Why
- The changes tighten pollution controls, with more focus on vehicle emissions and dust control.
- Plan
- Revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for Delhi-NCR
- Changes
- 48 action points across the plan's stages
- Bus restrictions
- From Stage I, covered buses must be electric, CNG or BS-VI diesel to ply in Delhi-NCR
- Bus coverage
- Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir
- Diesel generators
- Restrictions move from Stage II to Stage I
- Goods vehicles
- BS-IV goods vehicles carrying essential commodities lose an earlier exemption under Stages III and IV
- Construction-site monitoring
- Sites larger than 500 square metres will be required to display PM10 and PM2.5 levels