Air quality-driven construction ban may delay realty projects in Delhi-NCR

568,000 housing units are under various stages of completion. Periodic bans by NGT, govt, or apex court in response to poor air quality have serious consequences, say experts

The real estate market, which was just getting back on track with demand booming after a near two-year gap, is now facing a new setback with deteriorating air quality in Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has come up with a revised Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) ‘stage 1’ and has banned construction and demolition activities in the region.

If the pollution reaches severe levels, authorities will enforce a complete ban on construction and demolition activities in NCR, except on essential projects such as railways, metros, airports, ISBTs, national security/defence-related projects of national importance.

According