Delhi Doubles Parking Fees Under GRAP 3 & 4 to Combat Severe Air Pollution

• Delhi government has doubled parking fees at authorized lots to discourage private vehicle use during GRAP Stage III ('Severe') and Stage IV ('Severe Plus') air quality.
• The decision aims to tackle severe air pollution in the national capital, where the AQI was 324 at 7 PM.
• Parking lots managed by DMRC are exempt from the increased fees, as per the January 8 notification.
• Vehicles contribute significantly to air pollution, with IIT Kanpur's 2015 study showing they emit 19.7% PM10 and 25.1% PM2.5 in winter.
• This measure follows NGT orders and CAQM directives to reduce private transport and implement Transport Demand Management (TDM) measures.

Why It Matters: Delhi increases parking fees to curb private vehicle use and combat severe air pollution under GRAP stages.