New Delhi

Delhi continued to reel under severely polluted air on Monday, with the city’s overall Air Quality Index (AQI) recorded at 452 at around 8 am, placing it firmly in the ‘Severe’ category, according to data released by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).

The situation showed little improvement from Sunday, when the AQI stood at 461 in the afternoon, indicating persistently hazardous conditions across the national capital.

A thick blanket of toxic smog engulfed large parts of the city, sharply reducing visibility and causing widespread discomfort among residents. Areas such as Anand Vihar, which recorded an AQI of 409, remained heavily smog-bound. Similar conditions were reported around Kartavya Path, Akshardham, AIIMS and Yashobhoomi, where dense haze continued to linger.

CPCB data showed that several localities were experiencing severe air quality, including Aya Nagar (406), Chandni Chowk (437), RK Puram (477) and Dwarka Sector 8 (462). Wazirpur recorded an AQI of 500, the upper limit of the ‘severe’ category.

As per AQI standards, readings between 0–50 are classified as good, 51–100 as satisfactory, 101–200 as moderate, 201–300 as poor, 301–400 as very poor, and 401–500 as severe.

Amid the worsening pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and adjoining areas conducted an extensive road inspection drive on December 12, deploying 19 inspection teams. The exercise was part of the Commission’s ongoing monitoring and enforcement under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

According to official data, 136 road stretches under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) were inspected across the city. Of these, 15 stretches showed high levels of visible dust, 38 had moderate dust, 61 recorded low dust levels, while 22 stretches showed no visible dust. The inspection also found municipal solid waste (MSW) accumulation at 55 locations and construction and demolition (C&D) waste at 53 sites. Evidence of MSW or biomass burning was detected at six locations.

The Commission said the findings pointed to recurring lapses and inadequate maintenance of several road stretches. It stressed the need for the DDA to improve operational efficiency and take immediate corrective steps, including consistent dust-mitigation measures and stricter compliance to prevent waste burning.

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CAQM further underlined that such violations significantly contribute to elevated particulate matter levels in Delhi. It called for stronger on-ground action, including regular mechanical sweeping, prompt disposal of collected dust, maintenance of road shoulders and central verges, and wider deployment of water-sprinkling and dust-suppression systems, along with focused efforts to curb open burning across all DDA-maintained stretches.