Delhi AQI at 261, worst this season: New winter curbs begin with traffic snarls; know what restrictions are in force

NEW DELHI: Delhi's new winter pollution curbs triggered long traffic jams at the city's borders on Sunday, as vehicles lined up for emission checks on the first day of enforcement.

The congestion came alongside a sharp deterioration in air quality, with the city's Air Quality Index (AQI) rising to 261 in the poor category — its worst reading of the season and the highest in 198 days.

Heavy traffic was reported at several entry points, particularly along the Delhi-Gurugram and Delhi-Noida borders, where traffic police and enforcement teams checked vehicles entering the national capital.

Long queues built up near Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) toll booths and other entry points across the National Capital Region (NCR).

Commuters faced bumper-to-bumper traffic as officials stopped vehicles that failed to meet the prescribed emission standards.