Pollution levels rise in Delhi-NCR; GRAP-1 implemented. Starting November 1, government and private offices will shift to 50% ‘work from home,’ and parking charges will be doubled.

Pollution levels rise in Delhi-NCR; GRAP-1 implemented. Starting November 1, government and private offices will shift to 50% ‘work from home,’ and parking charges will be doubled.

With air quality in Delhi-NCR reaching the ‘poor’ category, Stage 1 of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) has been implemented. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa announced that parking charges will be doubled effective November 1. He clarified that this increase will apply everywhere except at metro stations, as the objective is to encourage more people to use the metro. Minister Sirsa further remarked that Delhi’s air has remained severely polluted for the past 10–12 years, while the previous administration merely offered excuses. The question remains: when will Delhi finally become free from pollution?