The improvement, fueled by surface winds reaching speeds of 15–20 km/h, prompted the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) to immediately revoke Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
GRAP-3 Rollback: What Changes?
With the revocation of Stage III measures, several major restrictions that had been in place since mid-December have been lifted:
- Construction & Demolition: Private construction and demolition activities are now permitted to resume.
- Vehicle Restrictions: The ban on BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers has been lifted, allowing these older vehicles back on the roads.
- Industrial Activity: Mining and allied operations in the NCR have been given the green light to restart.
- School Operations: Primary schools, which were shifted to a hybrid or online mode under Stage III, can now resume physical classes.
Note: Restrictions under GRAP Stage I and II remain in force. This means dust-control measures at construction sites and the ban on diesel generator sets (except for essential services) will still be strictly enforced.
AQI Variations Across Delhi (Jan 3, 8 am)
While the city-wide average improved, local air quality varied significantly based on industrial activity and traffic density:
| Monitoring Station | AQI Level | Category |
| Mandir Marg | 128 | Moderate |
| Bawana | 145 | Moderate |
| IGI Airport (T3) | 148 | Moderate |
| Sirifort | 289 | Poor |
| Nehru Nagar | 297 | Poor |
| Jahangirpuri | 316 | Very Poor |
Weather Alert: Cold Wave and Returning Smog
The IMD and air quality experts warn that the current relief is likely temporary. A combination of changing wind patterns and dropping temperatures is expected to trap pollutants again by early next week.
- Cold Wave: Minimum temperatures are forecast to dip to 6°C – 8°C over the weekend. A cold wave warning is in effect from January 3 to January 6.
- Fog Alert: A Yellow Alert has been issued for moderate to dense fog, which may impact early morning visibility for flight and rail travel.
- AQI Forecast: The Air Quality Early Warning System (AQEWS) predicts that pollutants will begin accumulating again on Sunday, potentially pushing the AQI back into the “Very Poor” category (300+) from January 4 through January 11.