NHAI Issues SOP to Curb Air Pollution from Highway Construction in Delhi-NCR
NHAI has issued a new SOP for Delhi-NCR to curb air pollution from highway construction.
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has issued a detailed Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to its field offices in Delhi-NCR to control air pollution caused by highway construction, road dust, and vehicular emissions. The guidelines apply to all completed and ongoing highway stretches under NHAI’s jurisdiction in the region.
The SOP outlines measures for mitigating pollution on constructed highways, including the use of mechanized road sweepers, regular plantation along medians and interchanges, and the application of the Miyawaki method for dense plantation along highways. It also directs the use of tarpaulin covers during material transport, regular road inspections, and maintenance to prevent dust generation.
For construction sites, the SOP prescribes the use of anti-smog guns, continuous water sprinkling, and covering of construction material with green nets to prevent airborne dust. It also calls for regular monitoring of air quality and compliance with guidelines issued by the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) and pollution control boards. The use of inert materials and construction and demolition (C&D) waste has been encouraged to reduce environmental impact.
The SOP defines responsibilities for NHAI field officers, contractors, and concessionaires to ensure compliance through regular audits and inspections. It also directs the organization of awareness programs for workers and redressal of related complaints through the Green Delhi App.
A review meeting chaired by Alok Deepankar, Member (Technical), NHAI, discussed the implementation of the SOP and measures to reduce dust and vehicular pollution. Field officials, contractors, and consultants were instructed to deploy sufficient manpower and equipment to control pollution effectively.
The SOP aims to provide a structured approach to mitigating air pollution linked to highway operations, aligning infrastructure work in Delhi-NCR with environmental safety standards.
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