NEW DELHI, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) -- As toxic smog envelops Delhi, India's Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has highlighted the alarming levels of air pollution in the city.

He pointed out on Tuesday that the transport sector plays a significant role in exacerbating this crisis and emphasized the urgent need to reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

On Tuesday, the Air Quality Index surpassed 400 at 27 monitoring stations across Delhi, with several areas falling into the even more concerning "severe-plus" range. A hazardous combination of dense fog and air pollution continues to blanket the national capital and its surrounding areas. ■