Will Reduced Traffic Lower Delhi’s Pollution? GRAP Revisions Give Residents Fresh Hope

New Delhi: With Delhi once again shrouded in a dense layer of smog, the revised guidelines under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) have renewed hopes of relief—provided they are implemented strictly across sectors. One of the key recommendations is for private companies to allow 50% of their employees to work from home, a move expected to significantly reduce peak-hour congestion and vehicular emissions.

Government Issues Advisory to Private Sector

Following the CAQM’s updated GRAP measures announced on Saturday, the government swiftly issued an advisory urging private offices to adopt remote working for half their workforce.
Former CPCB Air Lab Head Dipankar Saha emphasized that if all offices comply, vehicle density during peak hours will reduce substantially. This would also ease overcrowding in public transportation systems.

Transport: The Largest Source of Pollution

Experts agree that the transport sector remains the single biggest contributor to Delhi’s air pollution.
CSE Executive Director Anumita Roychowdhury stressed that while work-from-home advisories may offer temporary relief, long-term improvement demands structural reforms.

She pointed out inconsistencies such as:

• Lack of transparency around the implementation of the vehicle scrappage policy
• Unclear data on usage of electric buses and BS-6 diesel buses
• Poor last-mile connectivity
• Inadequate pedestrian and cycling infrastructure
• Absence of a clearly defined parking policy

Without addressing these gaps, she warned, meaningful reductions in transport-sector emissions will remain out of reach.

Parking Policy Still Missing

While PUC enforcement and impounding of end-of-life vehicles frequently make headlines, the absence of a comprehensive parking policy continues to undermine congestion management.
Experts argue that illegal and unplanned roadside parking is choking road space, causing jams, and increasing emissions.

Despite long-standing proposals to restrict car purchases only to those who have verified parking space, the plan remains unimplemented.

Traffic Management Must Take Centre Stage

Experts insist that air-quality control cannot rely solely on fines and challans. Instead, Delhi needs:

• Strict enforcement on old and polluting vehicles
• Caps on the number of new vehicles
• Efficient and reliable public transport that encourages people to leave personal vehicles behind
• Better designed roads and intelligent traffic management systems

With road expansion no longer possible in most parts of the city, limiting vehicular growth has become essential.

A Hard Reality: Transport Is the Major Culprit

Year after year, during peak smog season, the transport sector continues to be the dominant source of pollution.
Experts say that without strong, multi-layered reforms—spanning parking, connectivity, public transport quality, and fleet modernisation—the impact of GRAP will remain limited.

For now, Delhiites remain hopeful that the latest GRAP revisions, along with reduced traffic from work-from-home directives, will offer some immediate respite from the capital’s chronic pollution crisis.