New Delhi GRAP Rules; NCR Oct 2026 Restrictions: How AQI Decides Car Entry – Where To Check Daily Updates | Today’s news
The revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) of Delhi-NCR issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) lays down four levels of pollution-related restrictions, with stricter measures coming into effect as air quality deteriorates in the capital and adjoining regions.
Haryana’s Sonipat has been added to the regions where these restrictions will apply. Other areas include Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budha Nagar. Noida, part of Gautam Budha Nagar district is also covered.
What matters to a commuter is not whether Delhi’s AQI is high, but the restrictions that will apply after each phase of the GRAP. Vehicles would face restrictions based on factors such as fuel type, emission standard, vehicle category as well as location.
Here’s what car owners in Delhi-NCR need to know about the revised GRAP framework and how to check if they can enter Delhi.
What exactly has changed under the new GRAP rules?
The revised GRAP framework divides Delhi’s air quality into four phases.
The most important feature of the revised framework is that the authorities do not necessarily have to wait for the Delhi AQI to actually reach a specific threshold. Different stages of GRAP can be triggered based on forecasts.
If pollution unexpectedly exceeds a threshold due to extreme weather or an episodic event, the relevant grade can also be stored immediately for action that can be taken immediately.
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At what AQI level do car restrictions kick in?
As a car owner, you should remember that there is no single AQI number that will get your vehicle banned.
Vehicles will start facing restrictions in Phase III when AQI Delhi will be in the range of 401-450. The authorities are obliged to impose restrictions on certain categories of vehicles at this stage.
This phase of the GRAP specifically sets restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel or substandard light motor vehicles (LMVs) in Delhi and the five high-density NCR districts of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budha Nagar.
In Phase IV, when Delhi’s AQI rises above 450, restrictions will be tightened. Heavy goods vehicles entering Delhi will also be affected at this stage.
Does AQI decide if my car can enter Delhi?
Remember that AQI is a starting point, but not the only thing to check. The AQI determines the pollution category and the corresponding GRAP phase, but the CAQM decides when the phase is invoked based on the prevailing air quality as well as forecast and meteorological conditions.
So you shouldn’t simply look at an AQI value of say 402 and assume that all Stage III restrictions automatically apply at that exact moment.
A practical sequence you can follow: Check AQI → check the officially valid GRAP phase → check the restrictions in this phase → check your vehicle category.
Read also | New Delhi GRAP Rules; Restrictions in NCR October — Check the car ban guidelines
Which cars are affected in each phase of GRAP?
Phase I – AQI 201-300: Strict enforcement of pollution control standards and PUC requirements can be enforced at this stage, and authorities can be ordered to stop visibly polluting vehicles. These vehicles may be impounded or fined.
Stage II – AQI 301-400: In phase 2 we will focus on measures such as higher car parking charges to discourage private transport and encourage people to use public transport.
Level III – AQI 401-450: This is the phase which is important for you as a car owner as the authorities are required to impose strict restrictions on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel or substandard four wheeler LMVs in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budha Nagar.
Level IV – AQI above 450: At this stage we will focus on trucks. Heavy goods vehicles will be stopped from entering Delhi, though LNG, CNG, electric and BS-VI diesel trucks will be allowed to enter. BS-IV diesel and Delhi-registered sub-standard heavy trucks are also banned from plying in Delhi.
Moreover, in each phase of the GRAP, the provisions of the previous phase will remain in force.
Does the age of my car or its BS emission standard matter?
For specific Stage III LMV restrictions, the revised GRAP rules identify vehicles by their BS emission standard and fuel type — BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel or below standard LMV.
Commuters and vehicle owners should therefore check the fuel type and BS classification of their vehicle rather than relying solely on its age.
Phase I also requires enforcement of existing restrictions on excess gasoline and diesel vehicles.
Can I enter Delhi from Noida, Gurugram, Ghaziabad or Faridabad during the restrictions?
The answer depends on the vehicle category and the applicable GRAP phase. For Stage III, the restriction on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel or sub-standard LMVs specifically applies to Delhi and the high vehicle density areas of Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad and Gautam Budha Nagar.
This means that commuters traveling from Noida/Gautam Budha Nagar to Delhi, for example, need to check that their vehicle falls under the restricted category when III is in force.
What will happen to cars already on the road when the new GRAP grade is introduced?
While the revised GRAP measures do not specifically explain what happens to a restricted private car already on the road when the higher step is activated.
This clearly implies that once a higher stage is invoked, the restrictions from the earlier stages continue. Stage III measures are therefore complementary to those of Stages I and II, while Stage IV adds to the restrictions already in place for Stages III, II and I.
How do I know a GRAP phase has been invoked?
The revised GRAP document gives particularly clear guidance to citizens: Check the AQI in the SAMEER app and check the valid GRAP phase on the CAQM website.
This is important because the AQI value alone does not necessarily convey the full current status of the restriction.
The CAQM Subcommittee on GRAP meets frequently to plan pre-action and issue orders to enforce various provisions based on prevailing air quality and AQI forecasts.
Is the AQI shown in my weather app enough?
No – not as a single pre-trip check. A weather app’s AQI reading can tell you the current level of pollution, but the GRAP framework works through the official invocation of the CAQM phase, including decisions based on forecasts and meteorological conditions.
The revised document specifically directs citizens to use the SAMEER app for AQI and the CAQM website for the applicable GRAP phase.
So the safest routine is: > AQI on SAMEER + GRAP status on CAQM = check before driving.
