Delhi’s war on dust: Why city’s pollution hotspots remain a challenge

NEW DELHI: An examination of road dust, construction violations, mechanical sweeping and whether Delhi’s civic agencies are addressing the sources of pollution or merely suppressing it after it becomes visible.Delhi’s annual battle against air pollution has brought a familiar set of interventions to its roads: water sprinklers, anti-smog guns, mechanical road sweepers and intensified cleaning drives.

Yet, despite these measures, dust continues to accumulate along roads, construction material remains a concern, and civic agencies face questions over enforcement. The challenge is not simply to remove dust from the streets but to prevent it from becoming airborne in the first place.Recent reports reveal a gap between the scale of Delhi’s dust-control efforts and the persistent problems on the ground.

While government agencies are expanding their equipment and targeting identified pollution hotspots, studies and inspections point to poor road conditions, inadequate mechanised cleaning, uncovered construction material and illegal dumping as continuing sources of pollution. The central question is whether the capital is moving from visible dust suppression to sustained control of the sources.

The hotspots: Where does the dust come from?Delhi’s pollution hotspots are not necessarily affected by a single source. Road dust, construction activity, traffic movement, waste dumping and exposed soil can combine to worsen local air quality. Areas identified in previous hotspot assessments include Anand Vihar, Bawana, Mundka, Wazirpur, Rohini, RK Puram, Okhla, Jahangirpuri, Punjabi Bagh, Ashok Vihar and Dwarka.In October 2026, PWD introduced a strategy to identify and tackle dust sources within a 3-km radius of 47 pollution hotspots.

The approach recognises that cleaning a particular road or installing dust-suppression equipment at one location may not be enough if loose soil, uncovered construction material or excavation nearby continues to release particles into the air.The identified hotspots include Anand Vihar, ITO, DTU, Dwarka, Bawana, Pusa, IGI Airport, IIT Delhi, areas near JNU, Burari Crossing, North Campus and Alipur.

The department also planned to deploy around 200 anti-smog guns as part of its dust-control measures.This wider approach is significant because pollution does not stop at the boundaries of a designated hotspot. Dust generated by construction, traffic or exposed surfaces in surrounding areas can travel towards roads and neighbourhoods where suppression measures are already in place.The scale of the challenge is also reflected in the Commission for Air Quality Management's hotspot exercise.

A report on September 2026 said an earlier assessment had identified 65 major pollution sources across 13 hotspots. Of these, 16 had been resolved, while 43 remained under monitoring and six were pending. Authorities had also identified 4,555 minor pollution sources, including road dust, garbage and construction-waste dumping, potholes, unpaved roads, traffic congestion and open waste burning.

Nearly half of these minor problems had been addressed at the time of the review.These figures point to the scale of the task: identifying pollution sources is only the first step. The effectiveness of the strategy depends on how quickly the problems are fixed and whether the fixes last. Road sweeping: The gap between deployment and coverageMechanical road sweeping is one of the most direct ways to remove accumulated dust before passing vehicles push it back into the air.

However, the coverage of these machines remains a major concern.A report published on October 23, 2026, said a CAQM assessment found that mechanical road sweepers were cleaning only 35–40% of Delhi’s large and medium-sized roads on alternate days, against the prescribed norm of covering the entire road network. Delhi had nearly 100 machines, compared with the 172 required.The assessment also found that a machine covered up to 30km a day, against a requirement of 40km.

Roads obstructed by encroachments or illegally parked vehicles posed another challenge. Meanwhile, around 70% of Delhi’s road network consists of roads less than 10 metres wide, which are currently swept manually.This exposes a fundamental weakness in the city's dust-control strategy. Deploying machines is not the same as ensuring that every vulnerable stretch receives adequate cleaning.

If road edges and medians continue to collect dust, or if the material lifted during sweeping is not removed, the pollution source remains.The problem was highlighted during a 2023 inspection by then Delhi lieutenant governor VK Saxena. A report said thick layers of dust and loose silt had accumulated on pavements and footpaths along stretches near the Red Fort, Rajghat, ITO, Pragati Power Plant, IP Estate and Millennium Park.

Passing vehicles were stirring up the dust, while mechanical sweepers were also found blowing dust instead of suppressing it with water. Officials were directed to clean the streets and pavements and take remedial measures at power plant yards and bus depots.The implication is clear: the effectiveness of road sweeping depends not only on the number of machines but also on how they operate, whether they cover the required stretches and what happens to the dust they collect.

Construction sites and waste: Enforcement remains the testConstruction and demolition activity presents another challenge because exposed soil, uncovered materials and improperly stored waste can release dust into surrounding areas.A report on March 2026 said the Prime Minister’s Office had flagged serious lapses in Delhi’s dust-mitigation measures and warned of strict action against officials for negligence.

Discussions among officials covered road dust, poor waste management and delays in grievance redressal.The Municipal Corporation of Delhi said it was removing construction and demolition waste from roadsides and vacant plots on a war footing. However, district authorities cited limited mechanis…