NHAI Deploys 60 Water Sprinklers, 14 Anti-Smog Guns To Curb Delhi-NCR Pollution

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The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has intensified measures to control air pollution across national highways and expressways in Delhi-NCR ahead of winter.

The authority deployed 60 water sprinklers and tankers, 14 anti-smog guns, 23 road sweepers and two tractor-mounted brooms. It has assigned more than 900 workers to dust mitigation, according to a statement issued on Thursday.

Another 13 mechanical road sweeping machines are operating across 157 km of national highway stretches within Delhi-NCR, the statement said.

NHAI Member (Technical) Alok Deepankar reviewed pollution-control measures and directed teams to ensure regular sprinkling, anti-smog operations and daily road sweeping. He stressed the need to follow the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) guidelines strictly.

These include covering construction materials, keeping roads dust-free and intensifying pollution-control measures under the applicable Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) stages.

Officials must monitor activities daily and submit progress reports with geo-tagged photographs.

The review covered major decongestion projects, including Urban Extension Road-II (UER-II), Dwarka Expressway, DND-Sohna Expressway and Delhi-Dehradun Expressway. These projects aim to ease traffic congestion and reduce vehicular emissions.

NHAI officials were directed to expedite proposed decongestion works and promptly address public complaints received through the Green Delhi app and social media platforms.

NHAI planted around 9.80 lakh plants across the National Capital Region during FY 2025-26, exceeding its target of 9.52 lakh.

The authority reported survival rates of over 90 per cent. It has further utilised around 13.58 lakh tonnes of inert material from Delhi’s landfill sites in embankment construction along the UER-II and DND–Sohna corridors.

NHAI said it remains committed to reducing dust pollution, improving air quality and ensuring smoother traffic movement across Delhi-NCR during winter.

Also Read: Delhi AQI Today: Chandni Chowk Records 306 As GRAP Stage 1 Restrictions Continue

Pragati Upadhyay

I report stories and occasionally rescue facts from chaos. By profession, I’m a journalist; by conviction, a social worker who believes words should move people, not just headlines. I question power, celebrate ordinary heroes, and sometimes irritate the comfortable. If truth had a shift, I’d probably be working overtime.