Mumbai, Nov. 9 -- The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will operate 20 additional trips on weekdays after Stage II of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) came into force across the National Capital Region, as pollution levels worsened. The move is intended to encourage commuters to use public transport instead of private vehicles and help reduce vehicular emissions.
The DMRC said the additional services would take the total number of extra trips on its network to 40. The expanded weekday operations are part of efforts to support public transport use while authorities implement measures to address deteriorating air quality across Delhi and neighbouring areas.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) invoked Stage II of GRAP with immediate effect on Monday after Delhi's air quality entered the very poor category for the first time this season. The city's Air Quality Index (AQI) reached 324 at 4 pm on November 2, placing it firmly in the very poor range.
The CAQM's GRAP sub-committee recorded a sharp deterioration in Delhi's air quality over three days. The AQI stood at 117 in the moderate category on October 31, rose to 261 in the poor category on November 1 and reached 324 on Monday.
Under the measures, traffic police will be deployed at busy roads and intersections to ease congestion. Officials will intensify checks for valid pollution-under-control certificates and take action against visibly polluting vehicles, while rules governing older diesel and petrol vehicles will be enforced more strictly.
The CAQM attributed the deterioration to unfavourable weather conditions and said air quality was likely to remain in the very poor category over the coming days. The expanded metro schedule is therefore intended to provide commuters with a wider public transport option as restrictions under GRAP-II take effect across the region.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Construction World.