Ban on non-essential construction work lifted in Delhi-NCR as pollution eases

Delhi-NCR's ban on non-essential construction work has been lifted following an easing-up in air pollution.

The Central government's air quality panel on Wednesday directed authorities to lift the curbs.

The restrictions had been imposed in the national capital territory under stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan. Non-essential construction and demolition work was covered under the said restrictions.


Delhi's 24-hour average air quality index (AQI) stood at 343 at 4 pm, improving from 385 on Tuesday. An AQI between 201 and 300 is considered 'poor', 301 and 400 'very poor', and 401 and 500 'severe'.

As per an order by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), "The forecast by the India Meteorological Department and the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology does not suggest that the AQI would slip into the "severe" category in the coming days."

"It is therefore, felt that it is advisable to relax the stringent restrictions and roll back Stage-III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) with immediate effect in the entire national capital region (NCR)," the order said.