Commission Targets Road Dust in Delhi with New Inspection Drive
In a robust initiative to combat air pollution, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) launched its third road-inspection drive on December 8, 2025. This operation involved 22 flying squads and aimed to evaluate the levels of visible dust accumulation on roads managed by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC), Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) in the Rohini Zone. The inspection serves as part of the commission’s ongoing commitment to enforce air quality standards and mitigate pollution under the current Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
The inspection covered a total of 79 road stretches, focusing on the effectiveness of cleaning and dust-suppression efforts by the respective agencies. The teams also returned to previously inspected roads belonging to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) to assess improvements. Findings from the inspections were meticulously documented with geo-tagged, time-stamped photographs submitted to the commission.
Inspection Results Highlight Areas for Improvement
Of the 79 stretches evaluated, a stark contrast emerged in dust levels: 15 were marked with high visible dust, 36 showed moderate dust, 22 recorded low dust intensity, and 6 stretches were clean with no visible dust. Among these, roads managed by the DDA faced the most scrutiny, with 57 stretches inspected. Here, 12 stretches were found with high visible dust, while 27 showed moderate levels, 16 were recorded as low, and 2 stretches maintained a clean status. The findings prompt a call for DDA to enhance its cleaning and mechanical sweeping protocols on frequently affected roads.
Meanwhile, the DMRC fared better in its assessment, with 10 stretches being inspected. Of these, 2 showed no visible dust, 3 were marked as low, and 4 indicated moderate dust intensity, with no roads falling into the high-dust category. The DSIIDC’s 12 inspected roads also showed mostly satisfactory results, with 2 stretches free from visible dust and 3 at low dust levels, although 3 stretches were identified with high dust intensity.
Encouraging Progress But Room for Improvement
The re-inspection of roads under the MCD and NDMC revealed progress, with nearly a 50% drop in the high-dust category due to implemented corrective actions. Nevertheless, MCD still has 18 out of 35 re-inspected stretches in the high-dust category. NDMC had one road re-evaluated that also remained in the high-dust classification, suggesting both agencies must sustain efforts towards effective dust control.
The Commission noted that dust on roads greatly affects particulate matter levels in Delhi’s air quality. It underscored the necessity for intensified measures such as regular mechanical sweeping, timely dust disposal, and the maintenance of road edges and central verges. Agencies are also urged to deploy dust-suppression methods across all monitored stretches.
Going forward, the CAQM announced that it will continue its targeted inspections as part of ‘Operation Clean Air’ to ensure strict compliance with dust-control regulations. The goal remains clear: to keep Delhi’s roads clean, minimize dust pollution, and enhance overall air quality.
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