Delhi: According to official statistics, the national capital saw a little improvement in air quality on Friday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) averaging 292 and falling into the “poor” category.

The improvement follows Delhi’s earlier this week “severe” air quality readings, with the AQI reaching 412 on December 23. Pollution levels have gradually decreased over the last two days in a number of the city’s locations.

Three monitoring stations recorded “moderate” air quality as of 6.05 a.m., according to data from the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) Sameer mobile application. These included Najafgarh at 188, Lodhi Road-IITM at 160, and Lodhi Road-IMD at 194.

AQI readings from a number of additional sites fell into the “poor” range. Aya Nagar (212), CRRI Mathura Road (265), Dr. Karni Singh Shooting Range (290), Dwarka Sector 8 (282), IGI Airport Terminal 3 (238), IIT Delhi (231), Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium (253), and Mandir Marg (222) were a few of these.

Nonetheless, some monitoring sites were reporting “very poor” air quality. The city’s greatest pollution levels were found in places like Anand Vihar (377), Bawana (363), Jahangirpuri (372), Narela (345), Nehru Nagar (346), Sonia Vihar (353), and Vivek Vihar (361).

On December 24, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) removed the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) Stage-IV restrictions in the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR) due to the recent improvement in air quality. According to officials, more easing of pollution control measures may be contemplated in the days ahead if the improved trend persists.

The neighboring NCR regions continued to have inconsistent air quality. In Haryana, Gurugram’s overall AQI was 270, falling into the “poor” range, while Bahadurgarh’s AQI of 301 put it in the “very poor” category. With an AQI of 375, one of Gurugram’s four monitoring stations, situated in Sector 51, indicated “very poor” air quality. With an AQI of 279, Dharuhera likewise registered “poor” air quality.

All four monitoring stations in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, reported “very poor” air quality, with an aggregate AQI of 344. Knowledge Park-V had an AQI of 386, Knowledge Park-III recorded 337, and Greater Noida recorded an overall AQI of 362. At 334, Noida’s total AQI also stayed in the “very poor” range.

At least 1.2 million older automobiles registered outside the nation’s capital were prevented from entering by Delhi’s decision to only permit Bharat Stage (BS) 6 vehicles.