Delhi Metro's frequency to increase from today to beat air pollution
In a bid to mitigate the city's pollution, Delhi Metro will run 40 additional trips on weekdays starting (25 October).
The move comes days after Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP)-II measures were invoked to combat pollution in the national capital.
Usually, over 4,300 trips are undertaken by the Delhi Metro every day, according to the DMRC.
Besides, district officials will be conducting field visits to ensure the strict implementation of pollution mitigation measures.
The Delhi government has also been instructed to run additional buses in the capital under the "Paryavaran Bus Sewa" campaign to bolster public transport in a bid to reduce vehicular emissions.
On Monday this week, the Delhi government identified eight more pollution hotspots in addition to the existing 13 in the national capital.
Delhi Environment Minister Gopal Rai said special teams will be deployed there to check pollution sources.
Meanwhile, Rai said he has ordered officials to use suppressant powder to prevent dust pollution in the city.
He added that special teams will be deployed at the eight places to identify pollution sources and take corrective measures in collaboration with the Delhi Pollution Control Committee.
He urged the chief secretary to ensure these officials work diligently for the next month when air pollution is expected to peak.
Officials from the India Meteorological Department stated that the air quality in Delhi-NCR will remain "very poor" for the next few days due to a drop in temperature and the influx of emissions from stubble burning.
According to the Union Environment Ministry, the maximum share of farm fires in Delhi's PM2.5 pollution stood at 34% on November 3 last year and 48% on November 7 in 2021.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), a statutory body responsible for proactively implementing the pollution control plan known as the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), on Saturday, directed authorities in the NCR to increase parking fees to discourage private transport and enhance the services of CNG or electric buses and metro trains amid a likely increase in pollution levels.
