A persistent dust haze, originating from dug-up roads and exposed construction sites, continues to shroud several key areas of Gurgaon, defying recent directives from the Union environment ministry to curb air pollution. A ground visit by The Times of India has found that basic dust-control measures remain conspicuously absent across the Millennium City, contributing significantly to the winter pollution load.
Key Areas Drowning in Dust
The problem is widespread and severe. Locations like MG Road, Udyog Vihar, Sector 29, Sushant Lok 1, Galleria Market Road, IFFCO Chowk, Atlas Chowk, and the Gurgaon-Faridabad Road are among the worst affected. In these busy zones, incomplete road resurfacing work, mounds of loose construction material, and vast patches of exposed soil are common sights. Continuous traffic movement lifts this fine dust into the air, creating a street-level haze that refuses to settle.
On MG Road and near IFFCO Chowk, sand and cement are handled openly along pavements and medians without any barricading or water sprinkling. "This stretch is always busy, but whenever road work starts, the dust becomes unbearable," said Rakesh Kumar, a commuter from Sohna Road. "Within minutes, you can feel it in your throat, especially during peak hours."
Residents and Commuters Bear the Brunt
The situation at Atlas Chowk is particularly dire, where large portions of the road have been scraped and left uneven for weeks. Gravel spills into traffic lanes, with every passing vehicle kicking up dense dust clouds. "Two-wheelers have it the worst here," shared Ankit Verma, who works in Udyog Vihar Phase III. "There are no proper diversions. By the time you reach the office, your clothes and helmet are covered in dust."
Residential areas are not spared either. Interior roads in Sector 29 and Sushant Lok 1 have turned into open dust bowls with broken asphalt and bare earth. "It feels like we are living next to a construction site all the time," lamented Naina Gupta, a Sushant Lok 1 resident. "Even in the afternoon, windows have to stay shut because dust keeps blowing in."
Directives Ignored, Pollution High
This visible deterioration comes despite a clear instruction last Friday from Union Environment Minister Bhupinder Yadav, who asked Delhi-NCR authorities to show "visible improvement" in air quality within a week by tackling road dust and poorly managed construction. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has also reiterated directions to strictly enforce pollution control measures during the GRAP period.
In a recent review, the commission noted that Haryana's performance in tackling road dust, traffic congestion at pollution hotspots, and municipal solid waste disposal was inadequate. The ground reality in Gurgaon starkly reflects this assessment, with no visible enforcement of basic norms like covering debris, water sprinkling, or erecting barricades.
The consequences are measurable. According to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air, Gurgaon ranked as the fifth most polluted city among 238 Indian cities last winter. The average PM2.5 concentration over the season was a hazardous 110 micrograms per cubic meter, highlighting the severe impact of local emissions like unchecked dust.
As winter sets in and weather conditions turn adverse, the unchecked dust from Gurgaon's broken roads and open construction sites continues to be a major, unaddressed contributor to the toxic smog enveloping the National Capital Region.
