On January 14, the Centre implemented a ban on non-essential construction activities in Delhi-NCR. Additionally, the operation of BS-III petrol and BS-IV diesel four-wheelers has also been restricted, due to increasing pollution. Continue reading to know how this rise in pollution will affect the construction sector in the city.
This decisive plan has come into action as the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) noted a substantial increase in Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI), with values of 458 and 457 at 10 am and 11 am, respectively. As a statutory body responsible for devising and executing air pollution reduction strategies, the commission has enforced Stage-III restrictions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) to address the 'severe' level of air quality.
Currently, the national capital has switched to Central Government's GRAP-III (Graded Response Action Plan) and made measures active to counteract the ‘severe’ air quality category.
What are GRAP and its stages?
The GRAP is a set of measures followed in Delhi NCR to check air pollution levels. It is broadly divided into four stages, depending on the consistent AQI in the region.
Stages of the Graded Response Action Plan
| AQI | Zone | Stages of GRAP |
|---|---|---|
| 201-300 | Poor | Stage I |
| 301-400 | Very poor | Stage II |
| 401-450 | Severe | Stage III |
| 451 and above | Severe plus | Stage IV |
Every winter, a worrying smoky haze covers Delhi NCR and puts the health of millions at risk. Despite interventions, the air remains stubbornly polluted, with AQI levels frequently surpassing the safe limit. It's worth noting that any AQI reading above 60 is deemed harmful to health.
Details of the GRAP III restrictions
These stringent measures fall under the stage III of the GRAP managed by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). Under this stage, several activities are strictly prohibited:
- Earthwork, including excavation, filling, boring, and drilling
- Structural construction tasks, from fabrication to demolition
- Movement related to construction materials, both loading and unloading
- Transfer of raw materials, including fly ash
- Vehicle movement on unpaved surfaces
- Infrastructure works like sewer and waterline installation
- Flooring works involving tiles, stones, etc.
- Other activities like grinding, waterproofing, painting, etc.
The ban, however, did not apply to projects dealing with national security, defence, railways and metro.
How can a construction ban impact the realty of Delhi NCR?
Presently, over 4.5 lakh residential units are being constructed in Delhi NCR, including Greater Noida West, Yamuna Expressway, New Gurgaon, Noida Expressway, Dwarka Expressway, Central Noida, Greater Faridabad, Raj Nagar Extension in Ghaziabad, Sohna Road, and Golf Course Extension Road. And there are more than 4 lakh units in these areas combined.
According to an industry report, a construction ban due to air pollution could be a serious setback for ongoing projects since residential projects in Delhi NCR typically take 6-8 years to complete. Experts opine that banning construction due to poor air quality might have serious consequences. This can delay a project at least three to four months if construction activity is banned for one month.
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Does construction ban impact property prices in the region?
According to experts, construction bans have a negligible impact on property prices. The construction ban, however, could delay project delivery. Currently, Greater Noida West has more than 1.3 lakh units under construction, and a construction ban could affect project deliveries in the future.
Furthermore, real estate prices in most cities are not so much determined by environmental concerns as by access, proximity to city centres and major employment centres, urban mobility, and affordability.
Although realty transactions in Delhi NCR have been steadily growing, the constant restrictions may impact project delivery significantly. However, on the brighter side, despite restrictions, housing sales have been strong, and it is hoped that the positive demand continues.
See our latest webstory on Delhi air quality: Ban on non-essential construction
