GRAP-III in Ghaziabad: Construction banned, hybrid classes till class 5 as AQI dips

The directives were issued during a review meeting chaired by the District Magistrate through video conferencing on November 11.

In Short

• 5 dedicated inspection teams to be formed by each concerned department
• Mechanical road sweeping, water sprinkling to be doubled across Ghaziabad
• Officials warned of accountability, action over violations of GRAP-III norms

In view of the deteriorating air quality across Delhi-NCR, Ghaziabad District Magistrate Ravindra Kumar Mandar has announced a series of stringent measures under Stage III of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP-III) in the city. This will be including a complete suspension of all government and private construction and demolition activities in the district until November 20.

The administration has also directed schools to conduct classes up to Class 5 in hybrid mode, wherever feasible, while doubling mechanical road sweeping and water sprinkling operations to contain pollution.

The directives were issued during a review meeting chaired by the District Magistrate through video conferencing on November 11, following the Commission for Air Quality Management's (CAQM) directions on the implementation of GRAP-III across Delhi-NCR.

Officials from the Ghaziabad Municipal Corporation, Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA), municipal councils, Housing Development Board, Public Works Department (PWD), traffic police, transport department and Uttar Pradesh Pollution Control Board attended the meeting.

Taking a strict view of the prevailing pollution situation, Mandar directed all concerned departments to ensure that construction and demolition activities remain completely suspended from November 5 to November 20, 2026.

The prohibition applies to both public and private projects, and officials have been instructed to ensure that no construction-related work is undertaken during this period.

To enforce the restrictions on the ground, the Municipal Corporation, GDA, all municipal councils, Housing Development Board and PWD have been directed to constitute at least five dedicated inspection teams each.

These teams will conduct regular inspections across their respective jurisdictions to identify and prevent violations.

The District Magistrate has also warned that any failure to enforce the restrictions will invite action against senior officials of the departments concerned, with individual accountability being fixed.

He made it clear that negligence or laxity in implementing pollution-control measures would not be tolerated.

In another significant measure, the administration has directed the concerned departments to double their existing capacity for mechanical road sweeping and water sprinkling.

The departments have been asked to intensify road-cleaning operations, increase the frequency of water sprinkling and ensure regular monitoring to minimise dust pollution.

The education department has also been instructed to shift classes up to Class 5 in all schools across Ghaziabad to a hybrid mode, wherever possible, allowing students to attend either physical classes or online lessons, depending on the availability of facilities.

The District Basic Education Officer has been directed to ensure compliance, while school authorities have been asked to implement the instructions without delay.

With GRAP-III restrictions now being strictly enforced, the Ghaziabad administration is expected to intensify inspections and pollution-control operations in the coming days.

The construction ban will remain in force until November 20, while departments and educational institutions will be monitored to ensure compliance with the prescribed measures.

- Ends