Stage III — 'Severe' AQI 401–450
Each stage also includes all measures of the lower stages.
🚫 Prohibited / restricted
- Dust-generating C&D banned in NCR: excavation, boring/drilling, piling, all demolition, open-trench cabling/pipes, brick/masonry, RMC plants, major welding, painting/polishing, plaster, tile cutting, road construction, moving cement/sand/bricks, construction vehicles on unpaved roads #1(i)
- Stone crushers and all mining closed in NCR #2–3
- BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel 4-wheelers (LMVs) restricted in Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Sonipat, Ghaziabad, Gautam Buddh Nagar (exemption for persons with disabilities) #4
- Delhi-registered diesel BS-IV & below MGVs restricted; outside-registered diesel BS-IV & below MGVs and LGVs not allowed into Delhi #5–7
- Classes up to Class V in hybrid mode (Delhi, Gurugram, Faridabad, Ghaziabad, GB Nagar) #8
- States may allow offices at 50% strength, rest work from home; Centre may permit WFH #9–10
✅ Permitted / measures
- Minor MEP welding, minor indoor repairs, pothole repair #1(i)
- Less dust-generating construction continues with strict compliance #1(ii)
- All C&D allowed for railways, metro, airports/ISBTs, defence/national importance, hospitals, linear public projects (highways, flyovers, power, pipelines, telecom), sanitation/water projects #1(iii)
🙋 What citizens should do
- Walk or cycle for short distances
- Combine trips, choose cleaner transport
- Postpone private gatherings
- Don't use coal/wood for heating
- Follow hybrid school / WFH instructions