New Delhi, Jan. 24 -- The Delhi government has issued a gazette notification mandating that parking charges across the capital be automatically doubled whenever Stages 3 and 4 of the Graded Response Action Plan (Grap) are invoked, a move aimed at discouraging private vehicle use during severe air pollution episodes.

The notification, dated January 8 but uploaded by the environment department on its website on January 22, has been issued under the Environment (Protection) Act. It applies to all authorised parking facilities in the city but exempts those operated by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) to promote public transport, even as experts warn that the revision could create confusion in implementation.

Issued under Section 5 of...