Delhi Orders 50% Office Attendance as GRAP-3 Kicks In

• GRAP-3 triggered as Delhi’s air quality worsens to ‘severe’ range
• Govt and private offices told to function with 50% staff on site
• Schools advised to restrict outdoor activities for children
• Citizens urged to report violations on Green Delhi app

GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 24th Nov: The Delhi government has directed all government and private offices to operate with only 50 per cent staff on site, with the remaining employees working from home, as air pollution levels surged into the GRAP-3 category. The directive was issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), which oversees the Graded Response Action Plan across the National Capital Region.

Schools have already been asked to impose restrictions, including prohibiting outdoor activities for children when the air quality turns hazardous. Tuesday was expected to see reduced footfall in government offices anyway due to a public holiday declared for the 350th Shaheedi Purab of Guru Tegh Bahadur.

Delhi’s response mechanism relies on GRAP levels to determine the scale of restrictions based on AQI readings. GRAP-1 is invoked between an AQI of 201–300, GRAP-2 between 301–400, GRAP-3 between 401–450, and GRAP-4 when pollution exceeds 451. Authorities say worsening winter conditions and regional factors have pushed the capital into the GRAP-3 zone this week.

The government reiterated that private offices must also adhere to the 50 per cent cap, a measure that was similarly advised on Saturday as a precaution. Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said all pollution-control steps mandated under GRAP-3 are being implemented “with full seriousness and round-the-clock monitoring”.

Residents have been urged to avoid open burning of waste and biomass, stay vigilant about dust pollution, and report any violations through the Green Delhi app as the city continues to grapple with deteriorating air quality.