New Delhi, November 7, 2017 : Authorities on Tuesday hiked vehicle parking fee by four times in Delhi in a bid to curb worsening air quality in the capital as the high-pollution winter months kicked in.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Supreme Court-appointed Environment Pollution Prevention and Control Authority (EPCA) here to discourage people from using private vehicles as air pollution worsened further and touched more alarming proportions on Tuesday.

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The National Capital Region saw its worst air quality and smog situation of the year, which was even worse than a day after Diwali, as a yellow blanket of smog hung heavily in the sky.

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The pollution level rose to dangerous levels, with 18 out of 21 active pollution monitoring stations recording "severe" air quality. (IANS)