**Executive Summary**
On November 29, 2025, the CAQM's 26 Flying Squads inspected 321 road stretches across Delhi to monitor dust mitigation measures by MCD, NDMC, and CPWD. The inspection drive assessed visible dust accumulation and the effectiveness of implemented cleaning, sweeping, and dust-suppression measures. The Commission directed agencies, particularly MCD, to intensify cleaning operations and adhere to dust-mitigation norms, emphasizing that road dust continues to contribute to particulate matter levels in Delhi, especially during winter.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Inspection Overview:**
* 26 Flying Squads inspected 321 road stretches across Delhi.
* Inspections were conducted on November 29, 2025.
* The inspection assessed visible dust accumulation and effectiveness of cleaning, sweeping, and dust-suppression measures.
* Geo-tagged, time-stamped photographic documentation was collected.
* **Inspection Results:**
* 35 road stretches exhibited high visible dust levels.
* 61 showed moderate dust.
* 94 recorded low dust intensity.
* 131 stretches were found to have no visible dust.
* **Agency-Specific Findings:**
* **MCD:** Out of 182 inspected stretches, 35 had high dust, 50 moderate, 70 low, and 27 no visible dust. Further strengthening of MCD's operations is needed.
* **NDMC:** Out of 133 inspected stretches, 0 had high dust, 9 moderate, 24 low, and 100 no visible dust. NDMC's upkeep was comparatively better.
* **CPWD:** Out of 6 inspected stretches, 0 had high dust, 2 moderate, 0 low, and 4 no visible dust. CPWD's upkeep was comparatively effective.
* **Commission Directives:**
* Agencies must intensify cleaning operations, optimize mechanical sweeping schedules, and adhere to dust-mitigation norms.
* Consistent mechanical sweeping, timely dust disposal, pavement maintenance, and water-sprinkling are essential.
* Inspection drives under Operation Clean Air will continue.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder**: Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
* **Impact**: MCD needs to strengthen road-cleaning and mechanical sweeping operations, especially on stretches with recurring dust accumulation, given the higher number of dust-affected stretches.
* **Action Required**: Intensify cleaning operations, optimize mechanical sweeping schedules, and ensure strict adherence to dust-mitigation norms and Statutory Directions of the Commission.
**Stakeholder**: New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC)
* **Impact**: NDMC demonstrated comparatively better upkeep, but continued vigilance is essential.
* **Action Required**: Maintain effective upkeep and adhere to dust-mitigation norms to ensure sustained cleanliness.
**Stakeholder**: Central Public Works Department (CPWD)
* **Impact**: CPWD demonstrated comparatively effective upkeep, but continued vigilance is essential.
* **Action Required**: Maintain effective upkeep and adhere to dust-mitigation norms to ensure sustained cleanliness.
**Stakeholder**: Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM)
* **Impact**: CAQM requires ongoing enforcement actions to strengthen on-ground monitoring and intensification of dust mitigation measures.
* **Action Required**: Continue targeted inspection drives under Operation Clean Air and enforce dust-mitigation norms.
**Stakeholder**: Delhi Residents
* **Impact**: Reduction in road dust leads to improved air quality and reduced particulate matter levels, especially during the winter season.
* **Action Required**: None.
Key Entities Referenced
Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM): Commission overseeing enforcement actions and dust mitigation in the National Capital Region and surrounding areas.
Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD): Local civic body responsible for maintaining roads and implementing dust control measures in Delhi.
Delhi: The geographical area where the road inspections and dust mitigation efforts are focused.
Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP): Extant statutory framework under which dust mitigation measures are being undertaken.
Operation Clean Air: Targeted inspection drive to ensure roads are clean, dust-free, and compliant with dust control measures.
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
CAQM’s 26 Flying Squads inspect 321 Road
Stretches across Delhi to monitor Dust Mitigation
Measures
NDMC and CPWD show comparatively Better Upkeep, while
MCD requires enhanced Dust-Control Efforts
Commission directs Agencies to Intensify Cleaning
Operations and ensure roads are Clean and Dust-free
प्रव तथ: 30 NOV 2025 6:05PM by PIB Delhi
As part of the CAQM’s (Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas) ongoing
enforcement actions to strengthen on-ground monitoring and intensification of dust mitigation measures
under the statutory framework and the extant GRAP in-force, 26 Flying Squads undertook a focused
inspection drive across different regions of Delhi on 29.11.2025. This drive assessed visible dust
accumulation on road stretches and evaluated the effectiveness of cleaning, sweeping and dust-
suppression measures being implemented by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), New Delhi
Municipal Council (NDMC) and Central Public Works Department (CPWD).
A total of 321 road stretches were inspected across the roads of the three agencies. Geo-tagged, time-
stamped photographic documentation was collected and submitted to the Commission as part of the
consolidated inspection report. As per the final compiled data, 35 road stretches exhibited high visible dust
levels, 61 showed moderate dust, 94 recorded low dust intensity, and 131 stretches were found to have no
visible dust.
Under MCD, which had the highest number of inspected roads (182), 35 stretches reflected high levels of
visible dust intensity, 50 were moderate, 70 had low, and 27 stretches recorded no visible dust. The
findings indicate the need for further strengthening of MCD’s road-cleaning and mechanical sweeping
operations, especially on stretches with recurring dust accumulation.
In contrast, the NDMC region reflected relatively better performance with 133 road stretches inspected, of
which 100 showed no visible dust, 24 recorded low dust, and 9 moderate dust intensity, with no stretch
falling in the high-dust intensity category.
Similarly, CPWD with a smaller jurisdiction of 6 roads inspected, recorded no high-dust stretches, 2 with
moderate visible dust, and 4 with no visible dust intensity. Their data reflects comparatively effective
upkeep, though continued vigilance remains essential.
The Commission emphasized that road dust continues to be a major contributor to particulate matter levels
in Delhi, especially during the winter season. It stressed the need for consistent mechanical sweeping,
timely disposal of collected dust, proper maintenance of pavements, and regular deployment of water-sprinkling/ dust-suppression measures across all stretches maintained by these agencies.
Further, CAQM directed all agencies particularly MCD, given the higher number of dust-affected
stretches, to intensify cleaning operations, optimize mechanical sweeping schedules, and ensure strict
adherence to dust-mitigation norms and Statutory Directions of the Commission. The Commission
reiterated that such targeted inspection drives under Operation Clean Air will continue to ensure roads are
clean, dust-free and compliant of norms through improved dust-control measures in the region.
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VM/SK
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