**Executive Summary**
This document is a circular issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas, dated February 11, 2026. The circular outlines technical and operational norms for the deployment and utilization of Mechanized Road Sweeping Machines (MRSMs) to abate road dust in the National Capital Region (NCR). It directs all road-owning and road-maintenance agencies in the region to comply with these norms.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Objective:** To strengthen road dust mitigation and institutionalize uniform standards for MRSM induction, capacity, coverage, and performance.
* **Technical Norms:**
* **MRSM Size Classification:**
* Large-size: Hopper capacity > 4 m³ and operating width > 3 m for roads with RoW > 15 m.
* Medium-size: Hopper capacity 1-4 m³ and operating width 1.5-3.0 m for roads with RoW 10-15 m.
* Small-size: Hopper capacity < 1 m³ and operating width < 2 m for roads with RoW < 10 m.
* **Equipment Requirements:**
* Must have integrated water spraying system and a particulate matter (PM) dust filtration system.
* New fleet should only include CNG-fueled/Electric variants.
* **Operational Norms:**
* **Operating Hours:**
* MRSMs should operate at least 8 hours per shift.
* **Coverage:**
* Large and medium-size MRSMs: Approximately 40 running km per 8-hour shift.
* Small-size MRSMs: Minimum 20 running km per 8-hour shift.
* **Maintenance:** Newly inducted MRSMs may be operated and maintained under OPEX mode.
* **Deployment:**
* Deployment can be based on road sweeping requirements on alternate days and presence of dust on roads.
* Handheld vacuum-cleaning machines/litter pickers must be provided to sweeping staff.
* Scientific disposal of collected road dust is mandatory.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder:** Road-owning and Road-maintenance agencies in NCR.
**Impact:** Must align fleet planning, procurement, and operational strategy with the new technical and operational norms.
**Action Required:** Develop and implement strategies to comply with the MRSM norms, including fleet upgrades, maintenance plans, and disposal of collected dust.
Key Entities Referenced
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM): The commission that issued the circular prescribing technical and operational norms for the deployment and utilization of Mechanized Road Sweeping Machines (MRSMs).
Mechanized Road Sweeping Machines (MRSMs): Machines used for road sweeping, with specifications for size, capacity, and operational norms outlined in the circular.
National Capital Region (NCR): The geographical area where the norms for deployment and utilization of MRSMs are applicable.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
CAQM Issues Technical and Operational Norms
for Deployment and Utilization of MRSMs
Towards Abatement of Road Dust in NCR
Posted On: 11 FEB 2026 6:28PM by PIB Delhi
In a significant move towards strengthening road dust mitigation measures across the National Capital
Region (NCR), the Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has
issued a detailed circular prescribing technical and operational norms for deployment and utilization of
Mechanized Road Sweeping Machines (MRSMs) by all road-owning and road-maintenance agencies in
the region.
Road dust remains a dominant contributor to PM10 and a significant contributor to PM2.5 levels,
particularly during the drier months, and non-uniform or inadequate sweeping practices have been
observed to adversely affect ambient air quality. The circular lays down a structured, Right of Way (RoW)
based deployment framework to ensure optimal and measurable reduction in dust emissions from roads.
The Commission has noted that roads across NCR vary widely in width and configuration, necessitating a
differentiated approach for effective mechanized sweeping. The norms formulated by the Commission aim
to institutionalize uniform standards for MRSM induction, capacity, coverage and performance across
NCR States. All agencies concerned have been directed to align their fleet planning, procurement and
operational strategy in accordance with these norms to ensure effective abatement of road dust. The
Technical and Operational Norms are as follow:
Technical Norms
i. Large-size MRSM with hopper capacity > 4 m3 and operating width of > 3 m for sweeping of
roads with a RoW > 15 m.
ii. Medium-size MRSM with hopper capacity between 1 m3 and 4 m3 and operating width of 1.5
m - 3.0 m for sweeping of roads with a RoW of 10 m - 15 m.
iii. Small-size MRSM with hopper capacity < 1 m3 and operating width of < 2 m for sweeping of
roads with a RoW < 10 m.
iv. There could be reasonable variations in the technical specifications of various categories of
MRSMs based on actual requirements.
v. MRSMs should be equipped with an integrated water spraying system for effective dust
suppression during sweeping operations.
vi. MRSMs should be equipped with an effective particulate matter (PM) dust filtration system to
prevent re-entrainment of PM during sweeping operations.
vii. Only CNG-fuelled/ Electric variant MRSMs should be inducted in the new fleet for the
sweeping operations.Operational Norms
i. MRSM should be able to operate for at least 8-hour on a shift basis. The day and shift schedule
of sweeping of roads shall be declared in advance for convenience of the public.
ii. Large-size and medium-size MRSMs should be able to cover a distance of approximately 40
running km during an 8-hour operational shift.
iii. Small-size MRSM should be able to cover a minimum distance of 20 running km during an 8-
hour operational shift.
iv. Newly inducted MRSMs may be operated and maintained under the OPEX mode.
v. Number of MRSMs required may be calculated on the basis of requirement of sweeping of the
roads on alternate days. As MRSM must clean the side edges of the road, the calculation of running
km will depend upon the number of edges of the road. For example, 1 km of carriageway without a
median/divider corresponds to 2 running km, whereas 1 km of carriageway with a median/divider
corresponds to 4 running km.
vi. Actual deployment of MRSMs may, however, be done based on the presence of dust on the
specific roads.
Further, the circular also provides for handheld vacuum-cleaning machines/litter pickers to the
sweeping staff for cleaning of roadsides/footpaths and mandates scientific disposal of collected road dust
to prevent re-entry of dust particles into the ambient air.
The Commission has reiterated that targeted mechanized road sweeping is critical for abatement of dust
from roads and reduction in PM10 and PM2.5 levels across Delhi-NCR. The Commission shall continue
to closely monitor compliance and implementation of norms to ensure abatement of road dust in the
region.
Circular
*****
VM/GS
(Release ID: 2226586) Visitor Counter : 119
Read this release in: Urdu