National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to all its field offices in Delhi-NCR to mitigate air pollution caused by highway construction and operations. The SOP outlines measures to control pollution from vehicular emissions, road dust, and construction activities across both completed and ongoing highway projects. The NHAI said that in an aim to create cleaner and healthier surroundings for National Highway users and nearby communities, the guidelines are applicable to all completed and under-construction Highway stretches in Delhi-NCR that are under NHAI’s jurisdiction.

It informed that the key steps include the use of mechanized road sweepers, plantation drives using the Miyawaki method, covering of construction materials with tarpaulin and green nets, and continuous water sprinkling at project sites. The guidelines also cover measures for Mitigating Air Pollution at National Highway Construction Sites through regular use of anti-smog guns, continuous water sprinkling through the day at construction sites and covering of construction material with green net to prevent airborne particulate pollution. In addition, the SOP also includes regular monitoring of air quality indices at project sites and adherence to guidelines issued by Commission of Air Quality Management and Central and State Pollution Control Boards.