In a significant move to combat the capital's persistent dust pollution, the Public Works Department (PWD) in New Delhi has announced a new project. The department is set to install an advanced, automated misting system along a key stretch of road in the city.
Targeting a Critical Corridor
The initiative will focus on the area from the Badarpur underpass to the Prahladpur foot overbridge. For this specific work, the authorities have allocated an estimated budget of Rs 98.13 lakh. Officials explained that the system will involve a network of pipes mounted on existing electric poles, placed either on the central verge or the roadside.
These pipes will be fitted with special nozzles designed to spray a fine mist in multiple directions. This design ensures wide coverage, effectively settling dust particles from the air and providing localized relief from pollution.
How the Automated System Will Work
The planned misting system is designed to be largely self-operating. It will be controlled through a combination of timers, air-quality sensors, and manual switches. This means the system can activate automatically when pollution levels rise beyond a certain threshold, or it can run on a pre-set schedule. The use of sensors is a key feature, allowing for a smart and responsive approach to pollution control rather than a constant, wasteful use of water.
Part of a Larger Anti-Pollution Blueprint
This project on the Badarpur-Prahladpur stretch is not a standalone effort. It is a component of a much larger city-wide plan. Back in 2025, the PWD had prepared a substantial budget of nearly Rs 23.3 crore for a comprehensive mist-spray initiative.
That larger plan aims to install similar systems on 305 electric poles across 9 identified pollution hotspots in Delhi. The current project appears to be the execution phase of that earlier budgetary proposal, targeting one of these critical zones.
The move highlights the administration's continued focus on leveraging technological solutions to address Delhi's severe air quality issues, particularly from road dust which is a major contributor to particulate matter pollution.
