December 14: The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) in NCR and Adjoining Areas has flagged serious gaps in road upkeep after its flying squads inspected 136 road stretches maintained by the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) across the national capital.
The large-scale inspection drive was carried out on December 12, 2025, with 19 teams deployed as part of CAQM’s continuous monitoring and enforcement efforts under the statutory provisions of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) currently in force.
Key Findings from the Inspection Drive
The inspection focused on assessing visible dust accumulation, presence of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) and Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste, as well as incidents of open burning of waste or biomass along DDA-managed road stretches.
According to the consolidated report submitted to CAQM:
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15 road stretches showed high levels of visible dust
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38 stretches recorded moderate dust accumulation
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61 stretches had low dust intensity
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22 stretches were found free from visible dust
Additionally, the inspection teams reported:
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55 road stretches with accumulated municipal solid waste
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53 stretches with C&D waste dumping
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6 stretches with evidence of open MSW or biomass burning
All findings were supported by geo-tagged and time-stamped photographs, collected jointly by officials from CAQM flying squads and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC).
CAQM Flags Operational Gaps
The Commission noted that the observations clearly point to recurring negligence and gaps in maintenance of DDA-managed road stretches. Such lapses, CAQM cautioned, directly contribute to elevated particulate matter (PM) levels, worsening Delhi’s air quality.
CAQM emphasized the urgent need for the Delhi Development Authority to intensify consistent and timely dust mitigation measures and strengthen overall compliance with pollution control norms.
Recommended Corrective Measures
To address the identified shortcomings, CAQM stressed the need for robust on-ground action, including:
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Regular mechanical road sweeping
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Timely disposal of collected dust and waste
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Proper maintenance of road shoulders and central verges
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Deployment of water sprinkling and dust suppression systems
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Strict enforcement against open burning of MSW and biomass
The Commission also highlighted the importance of focused preventive action to eliminate waste burning incidents across all DDA-maintained stretches.
‘Operation Clean Air’ to Continue
Reiterating its commitment to improving air quality in the region, CAQM stated that such targeted inspection drives under ‘Operation Clean Air’ will continue. The objective remains to ensure strict adherence to statutory directions on dust control and waste management, and to keep Delhi’s roads clean, compliant, and free from pollution-triggering practices.
The Commission made it clear that sustained enforcement and accountability will be key to achieving long-term air quality improvement across the National Capital Region.
