Mon Feb 24 12:27:40 UTC 2025: ## Delhi Lifts Air Pollution Restrictions After AQI Improves
**New Delhi, [Date]** – The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) announced today the lifting of Stage 2 restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). The decision follows a significant drop in air pollution levels, attributed to improved meteorological conditions.
Delhi’s 24-hour average Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 186 at 4 pm today, well below the 300 mark that triggers Stage 2 restrictions. While the India Meteorological Department and Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology predict the AQI will remain in the moderate to poor category, the immediate threat of severely polluted air has subsided.
The lifting of restrictions means the ban on coal and firewood, including the use of tandoors in restaurants and hotels, has been revoked. Diesel generator sets are again permitted, and construction, demolition, and industrial activities can resume across the region. Inter-state buses from NCR states are also allowed to enter Delhi.
However, authorities are maintaining a proactive approach. Measures such as mechanized road sweeping, the use of anti-smog guns, and daily water sprinkling will continue, focusing on known air pollution hotspots. Power suppliers have also been instructed to maintain uninterrupted electricity supply to minimize reliance on diesel generators.
The GRAP, implemented during winter months, categorizes air quality into four stages based on AQI levels. The current improvement follows a period of hazardous air quality, typically caused by a combination of unfavorable weather, vehicle emissions, agricultural burning, and other local pollution sources.
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