Delhi to get 106 more buses and 60 metro trips to tackle air pollution

New Delhi:

Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai on Friday said 106 additional buses would ply in the city while metros would run 60 more trips due to GRAP-3 measures imposed due to deteriorating quality of transport. air.

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) imposed GRAP 3 measures as the national capital recorded the worst pollution levels in the country, with air quality remaining in the ‘severe’ category for two consecutive days.

As of 9 a.m. on Friday, the city’s air quality was in the severe category with an AQI of 411.

Delhi Environment Minister, addressing a press conference, said the air quality index (AQI), which has consistently exceeded dangerous levels, has led to the implementation of GRAP -3.

“We are working to make GRAP-3 more effective in Delhi,” the minister said, adding that a meeting was held with officials from the departments of MCD, PWD, Transport, DTC, Metro and education to examine and implement urgent measures.

As part of this action plan, the Delhi government has banned non-CNG interstate buses from entering the city.

Only electric buses and those running on CNG will be allowed to enter. Besides, BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers have been banned, Rai said.

To ensure compliance, the transport department has deployed 84 teams, plus an additional 280 transport police, to monitor violations. A fine of Rs. 20,000 will be imposed for any violation of the new rules.

The minister highlighted that to reduce vehicular pollution, 106 new cluster bus services have been introduced. Of these, 40 buses were launched specially for civil servants residing in different areas of the city to discourage the use of private vehicles.

The routes will include key areas such as Nehru Place, Rohini, Dwarka, Janakpuri, Shahdara and others.

The GRAP for Delhi-NCR is divided into four air quality stages: stage 1 for a ‘poor’ air quality index (AQI) between 201 and 300, stage 2 for a ‘very poor’ AQI from 301 to 400, stage 3 for “severe” AQI from 401 to 450 and stage 4 for a “severe plus” AQI greater than 450.

Phase III restrictions include a ban on non-essential construction, demolition and closure of stone crushers and mining activities in the National Capital Region (NCR) of Delhi.

Under GRAP phase IV restrictions, all interstate buses from NCR states – except electric vehicles, CNG vehicles and BS-VI diesel buses – will be barred from entering Delhi , alongside a strict ban on construction and demolition activities, a suspension of mining-related activities, consideration of moving to online classes for students up to class V and daily sprinkling of water on the main roads.

To further reduce traffic emissions, metro services will increase by 60 more trips and road cleaning efforts will be boosted with 65 dust collection machines deployed by the MCD.

Additionally, 200 mobile anti-smog guns will be used in three shifts to spray the roads, with designated drivers in each shift to ensure continuity of operations.

Meanwhile, the Delhi government is also taking steps to regulate construction activities, banning private construction and demolition work and restricting non-essential work. Public and government services will, however, continue as usual, Rai said.

Speaking to the media, the minister urged residents to use bicycles to travel short distances, use public transport, carpooling and work from home wherever possible to help reduce pollution levels.

If air quality deteriorates further, the minister mentioned that emergency measures, including artificial rain, would be considered. “We will seek support from the Center if necessary,” he added.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)