New Delhi, Nov 13 (PTI) The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has postponed its hot-air balloon rides citing air pollution, official sources said on Friday.

     The DDA had last year launched these rides from Baanseera Park in the Sarai Kale Khan area. It was going to resume the rides again this year.

     "Keeping in mind the air quality, the rides will not commence from November 14 as planned earlier. Further date is yet to be finalised," a source said.

     Delhi's air quality plunged into the "severe" category for the first time this season on Friday morning, with the national capital recording an average AQI of 403.

     Last year, the rides were conducted in an open-air ground at DDA's Baanseera Park every evening after 4 pm.

     The organisers set the ticket price at around Rs 2,300 per person last time. Still, the response to the rides was low, and they were organised only on weekends.

     The DDA finalised the Yamuna Sports Complex, the Commonwealth Games sports complexes, and Asita and Baansera, two of the sites along the Yamuna Bank, for balloon rides.

     Expansion plans, beyond Baanseera, are on hold.

     A trip normally lasts between 7 and 12 minutes, with four people in the balloon.

     The peak season for balloon rides in north India, spanning November to February, offers ideal weather conditions.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)
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