The CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) in New Delhi signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Government of Haryana to implement the Standard Framework for Paving and Greening of Urban Roads in the state. The agreement was concluded at CSIR-CRRI and will be implemented jointly by CSIR-CRRI and the School of Planning and Architecture, New Delhi (SPA) in collaboration with the Government of Haryana. The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) will guide the programme and the signing formalised a structured implementation pathway.

The initiative targets mitigation of road dust, identified as a major contributor to particulate air pollution across the National Capital Region (NCR), and seeks to promote sustainable urban road infrastructure. CSIR-CRRI will lead scientific and technology driven interventions while SPA will contribute urban planning expertise and design standards. The Haryana Government has indicated commitment to operationalise the recommendations and to coordinate with urban local bodies for ground level implementation.

The project will proceed through four major work packages that together address design, greening, maintenance and technology adoption. The first work package will define space standards and road cross sections to guide road design and roadside use. The second will focus on mitigation of road dust through greening measures within the right of way and related landscape interventions. The third will improve road maintenance practices through a Road Asset Management System (RAMS) while the fourth will promote adoption of innovative construction and maintenance technologies.

The MoA exchange took place in the presence of senior officials from CAQM, the Government of Haryana, CSIR-CRRI and SPA, and signals a coordinated effort to reduce road dust emissions and improve urban air quality across the NCR. The partners emphasised the need for integrated planning, monitoring and capacity building to ensure effective implementation and sustainable outcomes. The programme concluded with a formal vote of thanks and networking interactions to plan next steps.