New Delhi, December 24, 2025:
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Tuesday said that the Delhi Government is implementing a series of immediate as well as long-term measures to effectively control air pollution in the national capital, with the aim of permanently mitigating the city’s pollution crisis. She said the government is adopting a multi-pronged strategy involving strict enforcement, technological interventions, and enhanced monitoring to address the issue.
Highlighting steps taken to curb vehicular pollution, the Chief Minister said surplus drivers of the Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) have been deployed for traffic management and to conduct Pollution Under Control (PUC) checks at petrol pumps across the city. Vehicular emissions, she noted, are among the leading contributors to air pollution in Delhi, and controlling them can significantly reduce overall pollution levels.
Rekha Gupta said that the Delhi Government has also taken an important policy decision to initiate the installation of mist spray systems on buildings in place of mandatory anti-smog guns. At the same time, the government is expanding the network of air quality monitoring centres to strengthen pollution surveillance and enable data-driven interventions.
The Chief Minister said she, along with ministers and multiple departments of the Delhi Government, is personally monitoring pollution control measures. In addition to extensive field-level action, special review meetings are being held regularly to assess progress and further strengthen enforcement. She said intensified PUC inspections are underway, polluting industrial units are being shut down, public transport systems are being streamlined, and continuous efforts are being made to control dust emissions. Incidents of burning bonfires, coal, and wood have also been effectively curbed by the administration.
Hundreds of DTC Drivers Deployed for Traffic Management
Emphasising the need to tackle vehicular emissions, Rekha Gupta cited studies conducted by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) and other government and research-based institutions, which indicate that effective control of vehicular pollution can substantially improve air quality. She said while strict action is being taken against polluting vehicles, parallel efforts are also being made to reduce traffic congestion on city roads.
On a temporary basis, around 600 surplus DTC drivers have been made available to the Delhi Traffic Police. These drivers are working in coordination with traffic personnel to regulate vehicular movement and ease congestion at key intersections and high-traffic corridors across the capital.
In addition, the Chief Minister said that at 500 petrol pumps across Delhi, two DTC drivers per shift are deployed round the clock in three shifts, amounting to a total of 3,000 personnel. Their role is to conduct PUC checks and prevent vehicles that do not meet emission norms from refuelling. Due to the vigilance and inspections carried out by this deployed staff, licences of 27 PUC centres found negligent during checks have been suspended, she said.
Mist Spray Systems to Replace Anti-Smog Guns on High-Rise Buildings
The Chief Minister said that the government has observed that anti-smog guns installed on high-rise buildings are not only inconvenient but also limited in effectiveness. These guns are extremely heavy, operate in a single direction, and consume large quantities of water. At present, 148 anti-smog guns are operational in large commercial complexes, malls, hotels, and office buildings of G+5 height and above across Delhi.
Rekha Gupta said the government is now moving to amend existing rules and will soon allow the installation of mist spray systems in place of anti-smog guns on high-rise buildings. She noted that mist spray systems are already functioning effectively in several parts of the city. These systems spray water in all directions, can be installed in multiple units on a single building, are lighter in weight, consume less water, and are more environmentally friendly, also benefiting nearby trees and vegetation.
Expansion of Air Quality Monitoring Network
As part of long-term pollution control measures, the Chief Minister said the Delhi Government is increasing the number of air quality monitoring stations across the capital to enhance surveillance and ensure accurate data collection. Currently, 40 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) are operational in Delhi, including 24 under the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), seven under the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology (IITM), six under the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), and one under the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs.
In line with the directions of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), the Delhi Government will establish air quality monitoring stations at six additional locations. These include Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), ISRO Earth Centre, Commonwealth Sports Centre, and Netaji Subhas University of Technology (NSUT), West Campus. The addition of these stations is expected to further strengthen Delhi’s air quality monitoring framework and support more targeted pollution control actions.
The Chief Minister reiterated that controlling pollution remains one of the government’s top priorities and said sustained efforts, strict enforcement, and technological innovation are essential to ensure cleaner air for the people of Delhi.
