📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Ministry of Science and Technology
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Delhi's New GRAP Rules Set to Restrict Vehicle Entry Based on AQI from Oct 2026
✍️ Livemint
🗓 08 Oct 2026, 11:36 PM
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From October 2026, Delhi and the NCR will enforce revised GRAP guidelines that tie vehicle entry limits to the Air Quality Index, with daily updates posted online.
The Delhi government has announced that the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) will be overhauled starting October 2026. Under the new framework, the Air Quality Index (AQI) will directly determine how many private vehicles are permitted on Delhi and surrounding NCR roads each day.
The revised rules assign specific AQI bands to corresponding traffic restrictions, with tighter limits imposed as pollution levels rise. When the AQI crosses a predefined threshold, the number of cars allowed to enter the city will be reduced, aiming to curb emissions during peak smog periods.
Authorities have set up a real‑time dashboard on the official Delhi government portal where commuters can check the current AQI and the applicable vehicle‑entry rules. The same information is also being syndicated on major news platforms, including Livemint, to ensure widespread accessibility.
The move follows a series of seasonal pollution alerts and is intended to complement existing measures such as odd‑even schemes and diesel‑vehicle bans. Officials say the data‑driven approach will provide a more flexible response to fluctuating air‑quality conditions.
Stakeholders, including transport unions and environmental groups, have been invited to submit feedback during a public consultation phase scheduled for the coming months before the rules take effect.
The revised rules assign specific AQI bands to corresponding traffic restrictions, with tighter limits imposed as pollution levels rise. When the AQI crosses a predefined threshold, the number of cars allowed to enter the city will be reduced, aiming to curb emissions during peak smog periods.
Authorities have set up a real‑time dashboard on the official Delhi government portal where commuters can check the current AQI and the applicable vehicle‑entry rules. The same information is also being syndicated on major news platforms, including Livemint, to ensure widespread accessibility.
The move follows a series of seasonal pollution alerts and is intended to complement existing measures such as odd‑even schemes and diesel‑vehicle bans. Officials say the data‑driven approach will provide a more flexible response to fluctuating air‑quality conditions.
Stakeholders, including transport unions and environmental groups, have been invited to submit feedback during a public consultation phase scheduled for the coming months before the rules take effect.