The Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) has issued a detailed circular prescribing technical and operational norms for deployment and utilisation of Mechanised Road Sweeping Machines (MRSMs) by all road owning and road maintenance agencies across the National Capital Region (NCR). The circular notes that road dust remains a dominant contributor to PM10 and a significant contributor to PM two point five levels, particularly during drier months, and that non-uniform or inadequate sweeping practices adversely affect ambient air quality.

The norms establish a Right of Way (RoW) based deployment framework and seek uniform standards for MRSM induction, capacity, coverage and performance across NCR states. Technical specifications differentiate large size, medium size and small size machines, with hopper capacities of greater than four cubic metres for large machines, between one and four cubic metres for medium machines and less than one cubic metre for small machines, and corresponding operating widths and RoW thresholds to ensure effective mechanised sweeping.

Operational requirements specify that each MRSM should be capable of at least an eight hour operational shift and that large and medium machines should be able to cover approximately 40 running km while small machines should cover 20 running km during an eight hour shift. Fleet planning, procurement and operations are to align with these norms, including preference for CNG-fuelled or electric variants, integrated water spraying and particulate filtration systems, and the option to operate newly inducted machines under an OPEX mode.

The circular also provides for handheld vacuum-cleaning machines and litter pickers for roadside and footpath cleaning and mandates scientific disposal of collected road dust to prevent re-entry of particles into ambient air. The Commission has stated that targeted mechanised sweeping is critical for abatement of road dust and for reduction of PM10 and PM two point five levels across NCR and will continue to monitor compliance and implementation of the norms.