Delhi’s air quality has worsened, and the city is now rated GRAP-3. Consequently, all construction and demolition projects that are not necessary have been prohibited in the capital. Older cars that meet BS3 (petrol) and BS-4 (diesel) regulations are also currently limited. Keep reading to find out how this change affects project deliveries in Delhi NCR.
The Center forwarded an order on January 14 prohibiting non-essential construction work in Delhi-NCR. Due to rising pollution, the ownership of vehicles classified as BS-111 gasoline and BS-1V diesel has also been put on hold. Continue reading to learn how this rise in pollution will affect the city’s construction sector.
With values of 458 and 457 at 10 and 11 am, respectively, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) observed a significant increase in Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI), prompting the implementation of this decisive plan. To address the “severe” level of air quality, the commission, a statutory body tasked with developing and implementing strategies for reducing air pollution, has implemented Stage-111 restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), which has activated countermeasures for the “severe” air quality.
What are the stages of GRAP?
The GRAP is a set of procedures used in Delhi-NCR to track air quality. Based on the region’s consistent AQI, it usually falls into four phases.
The Graded Response Action Plan’s phases
| AQI | Zone | Stages of GRAP |
| 201-300 | Poor | Stage 1 |
| 301-400 | Very Poor | Stage 2 |
| 401-450 | Severe | Stage 3 |
| 451 and above | Severe plus | Stage 4 |
Millions of people’s health is at risk due to the unsettling smoky haze that blankets Delhi NCR every winter. The air continues to pollute despite efforts with AQI levels regularly exceeding the safe limit. It is important to remember that any AQI value above 60 is considered hazardous to health.
Particulars of the GRAP 111 restrictions
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) oversees stage 111 of the GRAP, which includes these strict regulations. There are a few things that do not belong at this point:
- Earthmoving tasks such as drilling, boring, filling, and excavation
- From fabrication to demolition, structural construction tasks
- Construction material movement, including loading and unloading
- A raw material transfer involving fly ash
- Moving cars on unpaved surfaces
- Flooring projects like installing waterlines and sewer
- Flooring projects utilizing stones, tiles, etc.
However, projects about railroads, metro, national security, and defense were exempt from the ban.
What effect might a construction ban have on Delhi NCR real estate?
In the Delhi NCR, including Greater Noida West, Yamuna Expressway, New Gurgaon, Noida Expressway, Dwarka Expressway, Central Noida, Greater Faridabad, Raj Nagar Extension in Ghaziabad, Sohna Road, and Golf Course Extension Road, more than 4.5 lakh residential units are currently under construction, and the total number of units in these areas is over 4 lakh.
According to an industry report, residential projects in Delhi NCR typically take 6-8 years to complete, so a construction ban due to air pollution could be a significant setback for ongoing projects. According to experts, prohibiting buildings because of poor air quality could have detrimental effects.