A CAQM inspection of 25 road stretches covering around 35 kilometres in Delhi has found 17 violations linked to visible road dust and accumulated construction and demolition waste, prompting directions for urgent corrective action by the Public Works Department and other agencies.
The inspection was carried out on Saturday under the Commission for Air Quality Management’s Operation Clean Air campaign. Four flying-squad teams assessed roads connected to Delhi’s Inner and Outer Ring Roads and falling under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department.
The exercise focused on the condition of road surfaces and edges, as well as the effectiveness of cleaning and sweeping operations intended to control dust. The teams examined whether scheduled cleaning, regular sweeping and other dust-control measures were being implemented on the ground.
According to the CAQM findings, dust was visible on parts of the inspected roads, while construction and demolition waste had accumulated along road edges and on sections of the carriageway. The commission said these conditions showed that cleaning and dust-control measures needed to be implemented more strictly.
Roadside dust and C&D waste can become airborne again when vehicles move over or alongside the affected areas. The resulting resuspension can worsen air quality near busy roads, particularly where traffic movement is continuous. The inspection therefore linked road cleanliness not only to municipal maintenance but also to the effectiveness of Delhi’s wider air-pollution control measures.
CAQM has directed the PWD and other concerned agencies to take corrective steps on a priority basis. Agencies have been asked to keep roads within their jurisdictions clean and free of dust by carrying out regular sweeping and removing accumulated dust and construction waste.
The commission also emphasised the need for the timely removal of waste and immediate action wherever deficiencies are identified. Its stated objective is not limited to recording violations; the inspections are also intended to assess whether pollution-control measures are being followed at street level and to ensure that identified gaps are addressed.
The inspection places responsibility on agencies managing major road corridors to maintain routine cleaning rather than rely only on periodic action. However, the supplied report does not specify the individual road stretches where the 17 violations were recorded, the agencies responsible for each location, or any penalties issued after the inspection. CAQM’s directions for corrective action and continued road-cleaning measures are the next stated steps.