Stepping up efforts to curb dust at national highway construction sites, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has set up a ‘Dust and Control Management Center’.

This is in pursuant to the directions issued by the Commission of Air Quality Management (CAQM) to improve air quality index in the National Capital Region (NCR).

NHAI is implementing prestigious projects around NCR such as Dwarka Expressway, Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway and Delhi-Dehradun Expressway.

To keep the air quality and dust levels in control, NHAI has directed its contractors/concessioners to review the existing dust control measures at the national highway construction sites and strictly comply with the directions issued by the CAQM, Central and/or State Pollution Control Board.

Dust control measures to be taken at the construction sites includes deployment of mechanical sweeping machines on completed projects, water sprinkling along the day on all construction sites, deployment of anti-smog guns on all constructions sites and batching plants, and covering of construction and demolition material with green net or cloth.

With a dip in air quality parameters in Delhi-NCR, CAQM has invoked actions as envisaged under the Graded Response Action Plan.

In line with these guidelines, NHAI is ensuring that all possible measures are taken to maximise dust control at the construction sites in the region.