Penalties amounting to ₹5.85 crore were imposed on the first day of anti-pollution measures under the third stage of Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) for NCR. GRAP stage 3 guidelines were imposed across Delhi earlier this week to deal with the worsening air quality.

The city's 24-hour Air Quality Index (AQI), recorded at 4 pm daily, stood at 417, making it the worst in the country. On Friday, the AQI level was 396

Delhi NCR is implementing GRAP Stage 3 due to severe air quality, halting non-essential construction and restricting vehicle use. The region's AQI has reached hazardous levels, prompting authorities to enforce stricter measures like banning certain vehicles and limiting construction activities to combat pollution.

The GRAP 3 curbs in Delhi include ban on demolition and construction activities, and entry of certain vehicles inside Delhi-NCR, among other curbs, to prevent further deterioration of air quality.

Delhi's air quality remained "severe" for a second consecutive day, prompting the central pollution watchdog to invoke restrictions under the third stage of GRAP, including a ban on construction activ