New Delhi GRAP Rules; Restrictions in NCR October 2026: these 8 states; older buses will be affected – Commuter Imp | Today’s news
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has tightened the Delhi-NCR Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), bringing into force some restrictions at an earlier stage and removing exemptions for some vehicles.
Key changes include restrictions on inter-city and inter-state buses under BS-VI, CNG or electric vehicles as well as diesel generator sets, from GRAP stage I instead of stage II.
The revised framework also changes the rules for commercial vehicles carrying essential goods and expands the public recommendations within the citizen charters issued for each stage of the GRAP, Times of India reported.
The latest changes mark the fifth revision of GRAP from 2022, with a greater focus on vehicle emissions and dust control measures.
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Which buses will face restrictions under Stage I?
Under the earlier GRAP framework, restrictions on certain interstate buses entering Delhi came into effect in Phase II.
The revised rules advance these restrictions to Phase I and expand their geographic coverage.
During Phase I, intercity and interstate buses from Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and adjoining states of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Jammu and Kashmir will not be allowed to enter Delhi-NCR unless they are electric, CNG or BS-VI diesel vehicles.
The revised rule also removes the earlier exclusion for buses and tempo passengers operated on All India Tourist Permits.
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For Delhi-NCR commuters from neighboring states, this could affect the availability of older buses once GRAP Stage I restrictions are implemented.
Diesel generators face curbs earlier
Restrictions regarding diesel generator sets were also moved from II. to the I. stage of GRAP.
The change brings the use of generators into the initial phase of the pollution control framework, reflecting CAQM’s stricter approach to sources of emissions during periods of deteriorating air quality, TOI reported.
What changes for trucks?
The revised GRAP removes the earlier exemption for certain BS-IV trucks carrying essential commodities during the stricter phases.
Based on the Supreme Court order, BS-IV trucks carrying essential commodities will no longer be covered by the earlier exemption under Stages III and IV.
This includes light trucks and medium trucks under stage III and trucks or trucks under stage IV.
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The revised framework also specifically addresses restrictions during Stage III for BS-IV diesel vehicles and substandard light and medium trucks registered outside Delhi entering the capital.
BS-III Petrol, BS-IV Diesel Vehicles: Added Sonipat
CAQM has extended the geographic scope of the restriction to some older passenger vehicles.
CAQM technical department member SD Attri said restrictions under Stage III on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel or substandard light motor vehicles have now been extended to Sonipat.
Restrictions were already in place for Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budh Nagar.
This means that vehicle owners and commuters in affected areas will need to monitor the current GRAP phase before traveling during periods of heavy pollution.
Hole repairs allowed during III. stages
The revised framework introduces limited relaxation in Phase III.
While construction and demolition activities remain restricted, pothole repairs will be permitted.
The change differentiates basic road maintenance from wider construction and demolition activity during the stricter pollution control phase.
Construction sites to display PM10 and PM2.5 levels
CAQM also aims for greater public visibility of pollution levels at construction and demolition sites.
SD Attri told TOI that more than 500 square meters of construction and demolition sites would be required to show PM10 and PM2.5 levels.
Attri said, “We have decided to make it mandatory for construction and demolition sites of more than 500 square meters to display PM10 and PM2.5 levels. Currently, only the State Pollution Control Board can check these levels, but we want the public to be able to see the concentrations as well. We will soon issue an order to implement this.”
CAQM has also revised its 2021 guidelines for monitoring dust abatement measures at construction and demolition sites across the NCR.
What else has changed in the revised GRAP?
The revised GRAP contains 48 action points that include measures to be implemented at various stages of the pollution control plan.
CAQM has also expanded citizen charters associated with each phase of GRAP. These charters give the public access to measures and preventive measures applicable to different levels of air pollution.
For commuters, transporters and businesses in Delhi-NCR, the key change is that several restrictions that earlier came into effect in the later phases of GRAP will now kick in earlier.
The revised rules therefore make it important for residents and businesses to monitor the GRAP status announced by the authorities, especially during the winter pollution season.
