GRAP’s Third Phase Triggers Vehicle Checks Amid AQI 400 Surge

Facing an AQI that hovers around 400, Delhi’s administration has activated the third phase of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), ramping up vehicle inspections across the city. Joint teams from the traffic police, transport department and the municipal corporation are conducting intensive roadside checks to identify and penalise vehicles that emit excessive pollutants.

The move follows a series of statements by Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav, who accused the BJP government of publishing misleading pollution data to conceal the severe health risks being endured by the population. Yadav emphasized that the factual reality of air quality should be judged by the hardships experienced by children, the elderly and the sick.

Delhi’s air quality has deteriorated dramatically, with the Air Quality Index crossing the 400 threshold in multiple districts. The resulting smog has reduced visibility to dangerous levels, affecting not only road traffic but also raising concerns over the safety of rail and air travel.

Authorities assert that the intensified checks are part of a broader strategy to enforce stricter emission norms, seize non‑compliant vehicles, and ultimately improve Delhi’s breathing environment. The enforcement drive is expected to continue until measurable improvements in the AQI are observed.