The updated pricing will be in effect throughout the city through January 31.
Until January 31, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) will treble the fees for parking lots under its management around the city.

In light of Delhi’s increasing pollution levels, the move has been made to discourage the usage of private transportation.

The municipal body said on Monday that the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) has decided to double the current parking costs (off-road and on-road) for private transportation till January 31, 2024. The NDMC would administer the parking through its own staff.

The Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) rules served as the foundation for the NDMC’s decision.

At the moment, Delhi enforces the GRAP IV rules’ anti-pollution measures under the CAQM’s directive.

Stage 4 restrictions forbid trucks transporting non-essential items from entering Delhi and forbid heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and medium goods vehicles (MGVs) powered by diesel from operating in the city. Additionally, it immediately prohibited the entry of diesel-powered light commercial vehicles (LCVs) registered outside of Delhi and those that did not meet BS-6 emission standards into the Capital.

The NDMC’s decision was made on Monday, the day after Diwali celebrations, when the Air Quality Index (AQI) at various locations in Delhi-NCR became “very poor.”

The Central Pollution Control Board measured Delhi’s 24-hour average AQI on Sunday at 218 at 4 pm. The AQI began to rise after 8 pm. It was at 230 by 10 p.m., 240 at midnight, 244 at 2 a.m., 250 by 4 a.m., 266 by 6 a.m., 283 by 8 a.m., and 301 by 10 a.m. on Monday. The most common pollutant, PM 2.5, continued to be present, demonstrating the effects of combustion sources, in this case, firecrackers.

On October 25, the day after Diwali, Delhi recorded an average AQI of 302 (very poor), which was the lowest AQI for Delhi following the festival in the previous seven years.

Source- Hindustan times