The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) carried out a large-scale inspection and re-inspection drive on 24 December 2025 to assess the effectiveness of dust mitigation measures on major road stretches maintained by key civic agencies in Delhi. The exercise forms part of CAQM’s ongoing monitoring and enforcement actions under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) framework.
The inspection focused on visible road dust accumulation, on-ground functioning of Mechanical Road Sweeping Machines (MRSMs), and identification of problem areas involving municipal solid waste (MSW), construction and demolition (C&D) waste, and instances of open burning. Geo-tagged and time-stamped photographic evidence was collected by inspection teams and submitted to CAQM as part of a consolidated compliance report.
A total of 15 teams from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) inspected 106 road stretches maintained by the Public Works Department (PWD). In parallel, two teams from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) re-inspected 27 road stretches under the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), which had earlier been flagged for high dust levels during inspections conducted on 12 December 2025.
The re-inspection of DDA-maintained roads showed significant improvement. None of the 27 stretches were found to fall under the “high dust” category. Of these, 19 stretches recorded low dust levels, seven showed moderate dust, and one stretch was found to have no visible dust, reflecting effective corrective actions taken by DDA following CAQM’s earlier directions.
In contrast, the inspection of PWD-maintained roads revealed persistent challenges. Out of the 106 stretches inspected, nine exhibited high visible dust levels, 16 showed moderate dust, 37 recorded low dust intensity, and 44 stretches were assessed as having no visible dust. Several stretches with high dust levels were also found to have MSW and C&D waste accumulation, along with instances of open burning, pointing to gaps in on-ground enforcement and routine maintenance.
CAQM noted that while the DDA’s response demonstrates improved compliance and responsiveness, the condition of several PWD roads calls for immediate and sustained corrective action. The Commission emphasized the need for regular mechanical sweeping, timely removal and disposal of collected dust and waste, proper upkeep of road surfaces and central verges, effective use of water sprinkling and dust-suppression systems, and strict prevention of open burning.
The Commission reiterated that such targeted inspections and re-inspections under ‘Operation Clean Air’ will continue, with the objective of ensuring strict adherence to statutory directions and maintaining cleaner, dust-free road infrastructure across Delhi.
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