Key Takeaways:
- Delhi will construct around 400 km of wall-to-wall roads to reduce dust once GRAP restrictions lift.
- Central funding has been released for 300 km; the remaining 100 km will be financed by the Delhi government.
- About 340 mist spray systems are operational and will be expanded to curb particulate pollution.
- Air quality is forecast to remain poor to severe over the New Year period despite slight short-term improvement.
Delhi’s administration has confirmed plans to begin construction on nearly 400 kilometres of roads once the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) restrictions are lifted, the Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Tuesday. The programme aims to reduce dust pollution by replacing fragmented road edges with continuous, wall-to-wall carriageways and expanding mist spray systems along central verges.
Delhi road construction
Ms Gupta said construction activity has been paused while GRAP, a short-term emergency measure, remains in force. Under GRAP, certain construction work is prohibited to limit emissions during periods of poor air quality. With the lifting of those curbs, tenders and related procedural formalities are ready and work can start promptly.
The Delhi government intends these stretches to be constructed wall-to-wall to eliminate dust generated at road edges. The city has also invested in mist spray systems to bring down suspended particulate matter. According to the Chief Minister’s Office, about 340 mist spray units are operational and their coverage is being expanded in phases.
On financing, the Delhi government says the Central government has released budgetary allocations for 300 kilometres of the proposed 400 kilometres. The remaining 100 kilometres will be built using the city administration’s own resources. Officials indicated the procurement and tendering processes have been completed, clearing the way for rapid mobilisation once GRAP constraints end.
Environmental authorities emphasised that road rebuilding and mist spraying form one strand of a broader air-quality management approach. Road repairs are expected to reduce resuspension of dust from carriageway edges, while mist spray systems capture fine particles. Both measures are intended to complement traffic management, construction controls and other pollution-reduction steps.
On the air-quality front, the overall Air Quality Index (AQI) of the national capital improved slightly to 388, classified as very poor, at 4pm on Tuesday, down from 401, recorded as severe, a day earlier. Nonetheless, several localities including Anand Vihar, Chandni Chowk, Rohini and Punjabi Bagh recorded severe AQI readings of their own at 8pm.
The Central government’s Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi warned that conditions would deteriorate again. Officials said the average AQI was likely to return to the severe category from December 31 to January 1, with a move back to very poor on January 2. Authorities urged residents to take precautions and avoid prolonged outdoor exertion during peak pollution periods.
While officials framed the road works and mist systems as immediate steps to curb particulate matter, experts note that longer-term improvements will require a mix of sustained action including stricter controls on emissions, cleaner transport policies, and expanded green cover. Yet the ready status of tenders and the blend of central and local funding were welcomed by some municipal representatives as enabling a swift start to visible remedial works.
Ms Gupta’s office said implementation will be monitored closely and rolled out in phases to maximise coverage quickly after GRAP is lifted. For now, residents will be watching both the skies and the progress of the planned roadworks as the city enters a period of heightened air-quality concern over the New Year.
