India
pti-PTI
The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will run 20 additional train trips on weekdays from Thursday and intensify anti-pollution drives at construction sites and surrounding areas following the implementation of GRAP-I in the national capital from Wednesday.
Following GRAP-I activation on Wednesday due to Delhi’s AQI reaching 246, the DMRC will add 20 weekday train trips from Thursday and intensify dust control measures at construction sites and roads.
The additional trips, to be operated from Thursday, aim to encourage more people to use public transport instead of personal vehicles, the DMRC said in a statement on Wednesday.
The corporation will undertake measures to reduce dust levels at construction sites, remove road dust from surrounding roads and clear garbage from footpaths and road medians.
DMRC engineers will thoroughly inspect construction sites and nearby roads to ensure that construction materials are properly covered and wheel-wash facilities for outgoing vehicles are functioning, it said.
DELHI METRO AUGMENTING TRAIN TRIPS, INTENSIFYING DRIVES TO COMBAT POLLUTION In the wake of implementation of GRAP-I in Delhi from today, the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will be increasing train trips on weekdays (Mon-Fri) starting tomorrow i.e, from 22nd October 2026. DMRC will be also intensifying anti-pollution drives at its construction sites and surrounding areas across the national capital to help mitigate the pollution.From tomorrow 22nd October 2026, Delhi Metro will be running 20 additional trips on its network for weekdays to encourage more and more people to use public transport than their personal vehicles. Similarly, a number of specific activities will be taken up to ensure decrease in dust levels inside construction sites, removal of road dust from the surrounding roads, removal of garbage from footpaths and road medians etc.Delhi Metro’s engineers will be inspecting the construction sites as well as the surrounding roads thoroughly to ensure that all construction materials are properly covered and the wheel wash facilities for outgoing vehicles are in working condition.These drives will be conducted in addition to a number of measures already taken up by DMRC to handle the issue of pollution.Approximately 31 kilometres of city roads are under DMRC’s temporary jurisdiction currently. These roads have been taken over by DMRC to facilitate Metro construction work in the vicinity. Most of these roads have already been repaired by DMRC to ensure that they do not contribute to any further pollution in the city.In total, over 250 anti-smog guns/ mist guns have been installed at the construction sites, stations and office buildings to decrease dust levels. Daily inspections are being conducted by DMRC’s Environment department to ensure that all environmental norms are adequately followed.
— Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (@OfficialDMRC) October 21, 2026
These drives will be carried out in addition to the pollution-control measures already being implemented by the corporation, it said. Around 31 km of city roads are currently under the DMRC’s temporary jurisdiction to facilitate Metro construction work. Most of them have already been repaired to ensure they do not contribute to further pollution in the city.
More than 250 anti-smog guns and mist guns have been installed at construction sites, stations and office buildings to reduce dust levels, the DMRC said. The corporation’s environment department also conducts daily inspections to ensure that environmental norms are being adequately followed, it added.
The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) on Wednesday invoked Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) across Delhi-NCR after the capital’s air quality slipped into the ‘poor’ category with reading of 246. According to the Air Quality Early Warning System for Delhi, air quality is likely to remain in the ‘poor’ category from October 21 to 24. The outlook for the subsequent six days also indicates that the AQI is likely to remain in the same category.
Stage I of GRAP includes measures to curb dust pollution from construction and demolition activities, road dust and open waste burning, among other sources.
