Gurugram Plans More Buses, EV Push And Road Redevelopment

Municipal Corporation of Gurugram (MCG) has outlined an action plan to curb air pollution and shared it with the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM). The plan aims for a 10 per cent reduction in key air quality indicators by December 2026 and sets targets to lower the annual average air quality index to 178 from 198, PM2.5 to 86 micrograms per cubic metre from 96 and PM10 to 176 from 196. It targets emissions from vehicles, road dust and construction through coordinated interventions.

MCG has requested Rs 2.91 bn from CAQM, seeking Rs 2.85 bn as a 50 per cent grant towards a projected Rs 5.7 bn road redevelopment budget over the next three years and Rs 60 mn for truck-mounted anti-smog guns. The authority plans to eliminate legacy dumpsites and pave dust hotspots to limit particulate re-suspension. Public awareness campaigns and technology deployment are included in the interventions.

Road dust control is central, with plans to redevelop 611 km of roads in 2026-27 as part of a multi-agency target of 726.54 km over three years at an estimated total cost of Rs 19.71 bn. Short-term traffic management and resurfacing will be combined with drainage upgrades to reduce wear and dust generation. Coordinated timelines and monitoring are to be used to limit disruption while pursuing air quality gains.

The plan aims to augment the bus fleet, noting the district requires 1,000 buses but currently operates only 150 BS-VI compliant vehicles, and proposes adding 200 buses in 2026 with 100 due in March and 100 in September. It envisages 20 EV charging points, 10 in Q3 and 10 in Q4, and 10 battery swapping stations by 31 December. 33 congestion hotspots have been identified for short-term measures and six major junctions on National Highway 48 require long-term decongestion. MCG notes three Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) are operational at Vikas Sadan, Sector 51 and Teri Gram.

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