Delhi Increases Train Services as Air Quality Hits Hazardous Levels

The Commission for Air Quality Management invoked Stage 2 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across the National Capital Region on November 2 after Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) hit 324, the first very poor reading of the season. Air quality continued to deteriorate on November 3, with reports showing a city-level AQI of 331 and peaks as high as 451, classified by some sources as hazardous. Authorities attributed the decline to unfavorable meteorological conditions and intensifying stubble burning in Punjab and Haryana.

To mitigate pollution, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation added 20 weekday train trips starting November 3, bringing its total number of additional trips to 40. On November 4, the National Capital Region Transport Corporation further expanded public transit options by adding 20 Namo Bharat train trips on the Delhi-Meerut corridor between Sarai Kale Khan and Modipuram.

Other Stage 2 measures include staggered office timings for government and municipal employees in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Gautam Buddha Nagar. Authorities also increased parking fees to discourage private vehicle use, deployed anti-smog guns, and intensified mechanical road sweeping. Resident welfare associations are now required to provide electric heaters to staff to prevent open burning.