The Commission for Air Quality Management in NCR and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) carried out an inspection drive in Delhi on 22 April 2026 to assess visible road dust and the effectiveness of road cleaning and sweeping operations that contribute to particulate pollution. The exercise focused on evaluating street-level dust mitigation measures and routine sweeping across multiple municipal jurisdictions. The commission described the activity as part of a broader enforcement initiative under Operation Clean Air.

The inspection was executed by five flying squad teams constituted by the commission, which undertook field assessments across three zones of Delhi, namely Civil Lines, Karol Bagh and West Delhi, all under the jurisdiction of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). Teams inspected main thoroughfares and residential stretches to identify accumulations of dust and refuse that may generate localised emissions. The approach combined visual surveys and enforcement checks to determine routine compliance with prescribed cleaning schedules.

Consolidated findings recorded 34 violations of visible road dust on various stretches, including Mahakavi Goswami Tulsidas Marg, Keshopur Road, Najafgarh Road, Vedic Marg, Satguru Ram Singh Marg, Ring Road Punjabi Bagh, Baba Ramdev Marg, Malkaganj Road, Ramlal Kapoor Marg, Shanti Swaroop Tyagi Marg, Azadpur Road, Bhalswa Dairy Road and Faiz Road. These cases mainly involved high levels of dust and accumulation of construction and demolition waste (C&D waste), signalling gaps in routine sweeping and timely debris removal that raise local particulate pollution.

The commission directed the concerned authorities, particularly MCD, to strengthen implementation of dust control measures, including regular mechanised sweeping, effective water sprinkling, prompt removal of C&D waste and strict action against unauthorised dumping. It urged agencies to fix accountability, enhance monitoring and ensure compliance with statutory directions and graded response action plan measures while continuing regular inspection drives under Operation Clean Air.