New Delhi, Dec 30 (NationPress) - The Chief Minister of Delhi, Rekha Gupta, declared on Tuesday that the government is proactively addressing pollution levels in the national capital. She emphasized that the construction of 400 kilometers of dust-free roads will accelerate following the removal of GRAP restrictions.

Gupta mentioned that once the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) measures are lifted due to improved air quality, the construction of these roads will initiate.

She highlighted that these roads will be built wall-to-wall, effectively eliminating dust generated from the road edges at the source.

In addition to road construction, the Delhi Government is actively implementing mist spray systems along the central verges of roads to neutralize dust particles and enhance pollution control measures, she added.

According to the government, budgetary provisions for 300 kilometers of the proposed 400 kilometers have already been allocated by the Central Government.

The remaining 100 kilometers will be developed using resources from the Delhi Government. This road construction is expected to not only improve traffic flow but also significantly cut down dust emissions from degraded roads, which are a major source of pollution in Delhi, as stated in an official announcement.

Chief Minister Gupta confirmed that all tenders and related procedural requirements for road construction are already finalized.

Once GRAP is lifted, the Public Works Department (PWD) will commence work with urgency, launching construction activities simultaneously across multiple city areas. Roads built five years ago or those that have severely deteriorated will receive priority. The government's objective is to complete this construction work, with high chances of finishing it within the current financial year.

Alongside the roadwork, the Chief Minister stated that the government is broadening the deployment of mist spray systems to tackle dust pollution.

“Following directives from the Environment Department, these systems are being installed on electric poles or other appropriate structures on road medians. The fine water droplets emitted from mist spray systems help suppress road dust, a significant contributor to pollutants such as PM10 and PM2.5,” she elaborated.

Currently, approximately 340 mist spray systems are operational at various locations across the capital, with plans to expand their coverage gradually.

The Chief Minister noted that these systems are being prioritized for installation in high-pollution zones and identified hotspots. They will remain functional throughout the year, except during the monsoon season, to ensure consistent dust control, she concluded.