Air pollution: The Delhi Metro will run 40 additional train trips on weekdays across its network from Wednesday (October 25), in view of deteriorating air quality and with GRAP-II in force in the national capital. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), while making the announcement said the move is part of the various measures adopted by the Delhi government to combat pollution under the GRAP-II stage.
DMRC to run 40 additional train trips
"As part of the various measures being adopted by the Delhi government to combat pollution under GRAP-II stage, DMRC will be running 40 additional train trips on weekdays (Mon-Fri) across its network starting from tomorrow," said the DMRC spokesperson.
"This has been planned to intensify the use of public transport among passengers across Delhi-NCR. Usually, over 4300 trips are performed by Delhi Metro trains everyday," it added.
The DMRC move comes days after the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)'s sub-committee invoked restrictions under GRAP-2 in to curb air pollution.
Centre invokes measures under GRAP 'Stage II'
The Centre's air quality panel on October 21)directed authorities in the National Capital Region (NCR) to increase parking fees to discourage private transport and enhance CNG or electric bus and metro services, amid a likely increase in pollution levels.
The action comes as part of 'Stage II' of the central government's pollution control plan known as the 'Graded Response Action Plan' (GRAP), which is implemented in the Delhi-NCR to combat air pollution during the winter season.
GRAP categorises actions into four stages: Stage I – 'Poor' (AQI 201-300); Stage II – 'Very Poor' (AQI 301-400); Stage III – 'Severe' (AQI 401-450); and Stage IV – 'Severe Plus' (AQI >450). Stage I mandates the suspension of work at private construction and demolition projects with a plot size equal to or exceeding 500 square metres that are not registered on the state government's portal for remote monitoring of dust mitigation measures.
What's Delhi government plan
Delhi Environment Minister, Gopal Rai, has announced a unique initiative, 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off,' aimed at curbing air pollution in the national capital as the Odd-Even traffic rule remains on hold.
With deteriorating air quality and rising pollution levels, the Delhi government is taking immediate steps to address the crisis. Gopal Rai emphasised the need for every Delhiite to contribute to air quality improvement, and as such, the 'Red Light On, Gaadi Off' campaign will be initiated from Thursday.
Rai said the government is preparing to combat pollution ahead of Deepawali. “As the Diwali festival is around the corner, the Delhi government is making an all-round preparation to combat pollution. We are looking at every trivial factor that might aid in increasing pollution in Delhi. We are prepared to take strict action on those who violate the norms. The government is also preparing the ‘Winter action plan’”, the minister was quoted by news agency ANI as saying.
“Though we have banned firecrackers in Delhi. But the public too needs to cooperate with the government. Since everyone out there is grappling with pollution, one needs to make a point that one does not promote activities that might lead to an increase in toxicity in the air. Through everyone's cooperation, we can achieve the goal of a clean environment”, Rai added.
India Meteorological Department (IMD) scientist VK Soni told ANI on Monday that there will be some improvement in the air quality after the implementation of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), but it will remain in the 'very poor' category until October 26.
