Delhi woke up to a hazy morning on Thursday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 366 as of 10 am, according to the Central Pollution Control Board. Many parts of the city are experiencing ‘very poor’ air quality. The overall 24-hour average AQI was 279 on Wednesday, a slight improvement from 294 on Tuesday, even with cloud seeding trials conducted in the capital. On Monday, the AQI was 301, also in the ‘very poor’ category. Projections suggest that air quality will likely fluctuate between ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ in the coming days.
Here’s a snapshot of the AQI in key Delhi areas at 9 am:
| Area | AQI | Category |
|---|---|---|
| Ashoke Vihar | 408 | Severe |
| Wazirpur | 399 | Very Poor |
| Jahangirpuri | 394 | Very Poor |
| Ashoke Vihar | 392 | Very Poor |
| Sonia Vihar | 382 | Very Poor |
| ITO | 374 | Very Poor |
| Burari | 373 | Very Poor |
| Punjabi Bagh | 372 | Very Poor |
| Alipur | 372 | Very Poor |
| Aya Nagar | 341 | Very Poor |
Following Diwali celebrations, several areas have reported ‘poor’ and ‘very poor’ air quality, leading to the activation of Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP). To combat the pollution, truck-mounted water sprinklers have been deployed across the city.
**AQI Persists Despite Cloud Seeding Trials**
Despite government-led cloud seeding trials as part of its air quality management strategy, Delhi’s AQI remains in the ‘poor’ category. Previous attempts on Tuesday, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur, yielded limited success due to low moisture content in the clouds, deemed unfavorable for effective cloud seeding. Wednesday’s attempt was also postponed due to insufficient moisture. IIT Kanpur noted that while immediate favorable results were not observed, the process did lead to a measurable reduction in PM2.5 and PM10 pollutants.
**NDMC Increases Parking Fees**
In response to the deteriorating air quality and the invocation of GRAP Stage-II, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has doubled parking fees. This measure aims to discourage the use of private vehicles, particularly concerning double parking in areas managed by the NDMC. Additionally, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has banned the entry of commercial goods vehicles registered outside Delhi that do not meet BS-VI emission standards, effective November 1. Non-BS VI-compliant commercial vehicles are permitted entry until October 31, 2026.