Delhi woke up to a gray wall again today, Friday, January 16, 2026. The air is literally thick enough to chew, and the CAQM (Commission for Air Quality Management) didn’t wait for things to get worse—they’ve officially pulled the trigger on GRAP-III restrictions across the entire NCR with immediate effect.
The thing is, the AQI in Delhi hit 354 by 4 p.m. today. Or nothing. Let’s be real, the experts are saying it’s going to breach the 400-mark (Severe) by tomorrow because the wind has basically stopped moving. Those too. We were breathing “okayish” air for about two weeks after the last restrictions were lifted on January 2, but that honeymoon phase is dead.
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The “Pollution Protocol” Log: Field Notes
It’s an ongoing situation where the city goes back into a semi-lockdown mode to keep the lungs from failing.
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The “Ban” List: All non-essential construction is dead. No earthwork, no piling, no welding, and definitely no painting or tiling. The thing is, if you were mid-renovation, your site is now a ghost town. And here’s the kicker—stone crushers and brick kilns are also ordered to shut down immediately.
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The Vehicle Crackdown: This is the one that hits the most. There is now a total ban on BS-III Petrol and BS-IV Diesel four-wheelers. The thing is, if you’re caught driving an older SUV today, the fine is going to be brutal. Inter-state diesel buses are also blocked unless they are Electric, CNG, or BS-VI.
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The “Hybrid” School Shift: Noida has already extended holidays for kids up to Class 8 until January 17 because of the “killer” combo of pollution and a cold snap. The thing is, in Delhi, schools are shifting back to that messy “hybrid” mode for most classes. Those too.
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The Forecast: The IMD says we’re looking at dense fog and “stable” atmosphere. The thing is, “stable” is code for “the toxic air isn’t going anywhere.”
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GRAP-III: What’s Blocked vs. What’s Allowed
| Restricted Activity | Status | The “Fine Print” |
| Construction & Demolition | BANNED | Except for projects like Hospitals/Railways/Metro. |
| BS-III Petrol Cars | BANNED | Strictly enforced across Delhi, Gurugram, & Noida. |
| BS-IV Diesel Cars | BANNED | No exceptions for private personal vehicles. |
| Mining & Stone Crushing | SHUT DOWN | Heavy surveillance by pollution squads. |
| Public Transport | RUNNING | Expect massive crowds as private cars stay home. |
And Here’s the Kicker…
The CAQM is acting “proactively” this time. The thing is, they usually wait for the AQI to hit 400 before doing this, but the forecast is so grim they’ve hit the panic button early. Those too. If the numbers hit 450, we move to GRAP-IV, which means a total ban on all trucks and 50% work-from-home for offices.
It’s an ongoing situation where the air you’re breathing tonight is roughly equivalent to smoking 15-20 cigarettes. The thing is, the mask isn’t just a suggestion anymore—it’s survival gear.
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