Editing New Delhi (section)

=== Air quality ===
{{See also|Environmental issues in Delhi|Air pollution in Delhi}}
In [[Mercer (consulting firm)|Mercer]]'s 2015 annual quality-of-living survey, New Delhi ranks at number 154 out of 230 cities due to bad [[air quality]] and pollution.<ref name="Mercer Quality Air">{{Cite news |date=8 March 2015 |title=2015 Quality of Living Survey |work=[[Mercer (consulting firm)|Mercer]] |url=https://www.uk.mercer.com/newsroom/2015-quality-of-living-survey.html |url-status=dead |access-date=28 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190128201250/https://www.uk.mercer.com/newsroom/2015-quality-of-living-survey.html |archive-date=28 January 2019}}</ref><ref name="WSJ New Delhi">{{Cite news |date=8 March 2015 |title=Bad Air Chokes New Delhi's Livability Ranking |work=[[The Wall Street Journal]] |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2015/03/05/bad-air-chokes-new-delhis-livability-ranking/?mod=WSJ_hp_India_EditorsPicks |url-status=live |access-date=4 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214025850/https://blogs.wsj.com/indiarealtime/2015/03/05/bad-air-chokes-new-delhis-livability-ranking/?mod=WSJ_hp_India_EditorsPicks |archive-date=14 December 2019}}</ref> The [[World Health Organization]] ranked New Delhi as the world's worst polluted city in 2014 among about 1,600 cities the organisation tracked around the world.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Harris |first=Gardiner |date=8 May 2014 |title=Cities in India Among the Most Polluted, W.H.O. Says |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/09/world/asia/cities-in-india-among-the-most-polluted-who-says.html |access-date=10 March 2024 |work=[[The New York Times]] |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=10 March 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240310104706/https://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/09/world/asia/cities-in-india-among-the-most-polluted-who-says.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2016, [[United States Environmental Protection Agency]] listed New Delhi as the most polluted city on [[Earth]]<ref name="New Delhi Earth">{{Cite news |date=8 November 2016 |title=New Delhi is the most polluted city on Earth right now |work=[[CNN]] |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/07/asia/india-new-delhi-smog-pollution/index.html |url-status=live |access-date=28 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816060132/https://edition.cnn.com/2016/11/07/asia/india-new-delhi-smog-pollution/index.html |archive-date=16 August 2021}}</ref> and [[IQAir]] listed New Delhi as the world's most polluted capital city for the second straight year in year 2019.<ref name="New Delhi Earth Pollution2">{{Cite news |date=26 February 2020 |title=New Delhi world's most polluted capital again: Study |language=en |work=www.aljazeera.com |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/2/26/new-delhi-worlds-most-polluted-capital-again-study |url-status=live |access-date=15 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211113043902/https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2020/2/26/new-delhi-worlds-most-polluted-capital-again-study |archive-date=13 November 2021}}</ref>
[[File:Connaught Place sunset.jpg|thumb|Dense smog at [[Connaught Place, New Delhi]]]]

In an attempt to lessen [[air pollution]] in New Delhi, which gets worse during the winter, a temporary [[alternate-day travel]] scheme for cars using the odd- and even-numbered licence plates system was announced by [[Delhi]] government in December 2015. In addition, trucks were to be allowed to enter India's capital only after 11&nbsp;pm, two hours later than the existing restriction.<ref name="Delhi122015">{{Cite news |last=Nida Najar |date=4 December 2015 |title=Delhi to Limit Use of Cars in an Effort to Control Pollution |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/05/world/asia/delhi-announces-pollution-control-measures.html |url-status=live |access-date=5 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151205054942/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/05/world/asia/delhi-announces-pollution-control-measures.html |archive-date=5 December 2015}}</ref> The driving restriction scheme was planned to be implemented as a trial from 1 January 2016 for an initial period of 15 days. The restriction was in force between 8&nbsp;am and 8&nbsp;pm, and traffic was not restricted on Sundays.<ref name="dnaindia2153471">{{Cite news |date=8 December 2015 |title=Have taken note of odd-even formula of plying of vehicles: Delhi Police |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |agency=[[Press Trust of India]] |url=https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-have-taken-note-of-odd-even-formula-of-plying-of-vehicles-delhi-police-2153471 |url-status=live |access-date=9 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710194904/http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-have-taken-note-of-odd-even-formula-of-plying-of-vehicles-delhi-police-2153471 |archive-date=10 July 2018}}</ref> Public transportation service was increased during the restriction period.<ref name=Delhi122015 />

On 16 December 2015, the [[Supreme Court of India]] mandated several restrictions on Delhi's transportation system to curb pollution. Among the measures, the court ordered to stop registrations of diesel cars and sport utility vehicles with an engine capacity of 2,000 cc and over until 31 March 2016. The court also ordered all taxis in the Delhi region to switch to [[compressed natural gas]] by 1 March 2016. Transportation vehicles that are more than 10 years old were banned from entering the capital.<ref name="20151217nytimes">{{Cite news |last=Nida Najar |date=16 December 2015 |title=India, choking on pollution, Restricts Vehicle Use in Delhi |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/17/world/asia/india-choking-on-pollution-restricts-vehicle-use-in-new-delhi.html |url-status=live |access-date=19 December 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218203447/http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/17/world/asia/india-choking-on-pollution-restricts-vehicle-use-in-new-delhi.html |archive-date=18 December 2015}}</ref>

Analysing real-time vehicle speed data from Uber Delhi revealed that during the odd-even program, average speeds went up by a statistically significant 5.4 per cent (2.8 standard deviations from normal). This means vehicles have less idling time in traffic and vehicle engines would run closer to minimum fuel consumption.<ref>{{Cite web |date=19 January 2016 |title=Yes, Delhi, it worked |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/odd-even-policy-delhi-pollution-yes-delhi-it-worked/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210929111947/https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/odd-even-policy-delhi-pollution-yes-delhi-it-worked/ |archive-date=29 September 2021 |access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> In bordering areas, PM 2.5 levels were recorded more than 400 (ug/m3) while in inner areas in Delhi, they were recorded between 150 and 210 on an average.<ref>{{Cite news |date=18 January 2016 |title=Odd-even scheme likely to return in Delhi after March; schools, 2nd car among concerns {{pipe}} Delhi News |work=The Times of India |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Odd-even-scheme-likely-to-return-in-Delhi-after-March-schools-2nd-car-among-concerns/articleshow/50629135.cms |url-status=live |access-date=23 September 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225090820/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Odd-even-scheme-likely-to-return-in-Delhi-after-March-schools-2nd-car-among-concerns/articleshow/50629135.cms |archive-date=25 February 2021}}</ref> However, the sub-city of [[Dwarka, Delhi|Dwarka]], located in the southwest district, has a substantially low level of air pollution. At the NSIT University campus, located in sector 3 Dwarka, pollution levels were as low as 93 PPM.{{citation needed|date=December 2016}}

On 7 November 2017, the [[Indian Medical Association]] declared a public health emergency due to high pollution levels.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Safi |first=Michael |date=7 November 2017 |title=Delhi doctors declare pollution emergency as smog chokes city |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/07/delhi-india-declares-pollution-emergency-as-smog-chokes-city |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029001236/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/07/delhi-india-declares-pollution-emergency-as-smog-chokes-city |archive-date=29 October 2021 |access-date=27 January 2019 |website=The Guardian}}</ref> The highest being in the [[Punjabi Bagh]] district with an [[air quality index]] of 999 and in the [[Rama Krishna Puram|RK Puram]] district with an index of 852. The lowest index recorded was in the [[Anand Vihar]] district with an index of 319.<ref>{{Cite web |date=7 November 2017 |title=Delhi air pollution: Public health emergency declared; people advised not to venture outside |url=https://zeenews.india.com/delhi/delhi-air-pollution-public-health-emergency-declared-people-advised-not-to-venture-outside-2054928.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109012213/https://zeenews.india.com/delhi/delhi-air-pollution-public-health-emergency-declared-people-advised-not-to-venture-outside-2054928.html |archive-date=9 November 2020 |access-date=28 April 2021}}</ref> Levels of PM2.5 were recorded at 710&nbsp;μg/m<sup>3</sup>, more than 11 times the [[World Health Organization]]'s safe limit.<ref name="auto" />

In a 2018 study, New Delhi was found to be the most polluted capital out of 61 capital cities around the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=6 March 2019 |title=New Delhi is world's most polluted capital |url=https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=06_03_2019_012_004 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210224234035/https://epaper.dawn.com/DetailNews.php?StoryText=06_03_2019_012_004 |archive-date=24 February 2021 |access-date=6 March 2019 |website=[[Dawn (newspaper)|Dawn]]}}</ref> In December 2019, [[Indian Institute of Technology Bombay|IIT Bombay]], in partnership with the [[McKelvey School of Engineering]] of [[Washington University in St. Louis]], launched the Aerosol and Air Quality Research Facility to study air pollution in New Delhi, among other Indian cities.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 December 2019 |title=McKelvey Engineering, IIT Bombay partner to study air pollution {{!}} The Source {{!}} Washington University in St. Louis |url=https://source.wustl.edu/2019/12/new-partnership-brings-together-mckelvey-iit-bombay-to-study-air-pollution/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210529072244/https://source.wustl.edu/2019/12/new-partnership-brings-together-mckelvey-iit-bombay-to-study-air-pollution/ |archive-date=29 May 2021 |access-date=21 February 2020 |website=The Source |language=en-US}}</ref> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in India]], the water quality of the [[Yamuna]] and [[Ganges]] river basins have improved as industries are closed due to the lockdown.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 April 2020 |title=Lockdown makes Ganga water significantly cleaner |url=https://www.livemint.com/news/india/lockdown-makes-ganga-water-significantly-cleaner-11586022134242.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813030621/https://www.livemint.com/news/india/lockdown-makes-ganga-water-significantly-cleaner-11586022134242.html |archive-date=13 August 2021 |access-date=22 April 2020 |publisher=LiveMint}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last1=Naqvi |first1=Haider |last2=Kumar |first2=Sudhir |date=4 April 2020 |title=Lockdown does what decades of schemes couldn't: Clean Ganga |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/anxiety-more-time-to-study-for-40k-students-stranded-in-kota/story-LgCluBkrFEITG9qyX16IEI.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411122442/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/anxiety-more-time-to-study-for-40k-students-stranded-in-kota/story-LgCluBkrFEITG9qyX16IEI.html |archive-date=11 April 2021 |access-date=22 April 2020 |publisher=HT Digital Streams Ltd.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=22 April 2020 |title=India's coronavirus lockdown reveals fresh air, cleaner rivers |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/coronavirus-lockdown-india-fresh-air-clean-rivers-1669726-2020-04-22 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411122442/https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/coronavirus-lockdown-india-fresh-air-clean-rivers-1669726-2020-04-22 |archive-date=11 April 2021 |access-date=22 April 2020 |publisher=Living Media India Ltd.}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Babu |first=Nikhil |date=14 April 2020 |title=Yamuna cleaner due to lockdown |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/yamuna-cleaner-due-to-lockdown/article31342401.ece |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411122442/https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/yamuna-cleaner-due-to-lockdown/article31342401.ece |archive-date=11 April 2021 |access-date=22 April 2020 |website=The Hindu}}</ref> The air quality has also significantly improved during the lockdown.<ref>{{Cite news |title=The silver lining: air pollution dips amid the lockdown |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/the-silver-lining-air-pollution-dips-amid-the-lockdown-1671422-2020-04-26 |url-status=live |access-date=2 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210411122443/https://www.indiatoday.in/india-today-insight/story/the-silver-lining-air-pollution-dips-amid-the-lockdown-1671422-2020-04-26 |archive-date=11 April 2021}}</ref> On 5 November 2020, New Delhi recorded its most toxic day in a year, as the concentration of poisonous PM2.5 particles was recorded at 14 times the WHO's safe limit.<ref>{{Cite web |title=India's capital New Delhi suffers most toxic air in a year |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/5/indias-capital-new-delhi-suffers-most-toxic-air-in-a-year |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116030854/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/5/indias-capital-new-delhi-suffers-most-toxic-air-in-a-year |archive-date=16 November 2021 |access-date=7 November 2020 |website=www.aljazeera.com |language=en}}</ref>

[[File:2015 Air pollution in New Delhi (AQI).svg|thumb|upright=4.1|centre|2015 Air pollution in New Delhi (PM2.5 AQI)
{{Columns-start}}
{{legend|#7e0023| Hazardous }}
{{legend|#9900ac| Very Unhealthy }}
{{legend|#ff0000| Unhealthy}}
{{Column}}
{{legend|#ff7e00| Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups}}
{{legend|#ffff00| Moderate }}
{{legend|#00e400| Good}}
{{Columns-end}}
]]
{| class="wikitable"
!Month
!January
!February
!March
!April
!May
!June
!July
!August
!September
!October
!November
!December
|-
|Average [[Air quality index]]
| style="background: #f90; colour: black" |201-300
(Poor)
| style="background: #f90; colour: black" |201-300
(Poor)
| style="background: #ff0; colour: black" |101-200
(Moderate)
| style="background: #ff0; colour: black" |101-200
(Moderate)
| style="background: #ff0; colour: black" |101-200
(Moderate)
| style="background: #ff0; colour: black" |101-200
(Moderate)
| style="background: #6c0; colour: black" |51-100
(Satisfactory)
| style="background: #6c0; colour: black" |51-100
(Satisfactory)
| style="background: #6c0; colour: black" |51-100
(Satisfactory)
| style="background:brown; colour: black" |401-500
(Severe)
| style="background:brown; colour: black" |401-500
(Severe)
| style="background:red; colour: black" |301-400
(Very Poor)
|}