Delhi's Chief Minister Rekha Gupta emphasized the need for year-round action to combat pollution as the city inaugurated six new air quality monitoring stations on Monday. The move aims to enhance real-time tracking of air quality across the capital. The inauguration of the new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS) stations was accompanied by the launch of the 'Vayu Rakshak' initiative, deploying 100 personnel for on-ground enforcement.
The six new monitoring stations are strategically located at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), SPMSPC Talkatora Garden, Commonwealth Sports Complex, Delhi Cantonment, and NSUT (West Campus). With these additions, Delhi now boasts 46 CAAQMS, making it the city with the largest air quality monitoring network in India. Of these, 30 are operated by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), 10 by the India Meteorological Department/IITM, and six by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The government has plans to install an additional 14 stations in the near future.
CM Gupta highlighted that air pollution is a perennial challenge, not limited to a specific season. The Delhi government is committed to continuous monitoring, policy interventions, and strict enforcement to ensure clean and breathable air for all residents. She emphasized data transparency, noting that PM10 and PM2.5 levels are updated hourly, while other parameters are refreshed every five minutes, enabling evidence-based policymaking. The expanded network will help authorities identify pollution hotspots more effectively and design targeted interventions based on scientific data.
Complementing this effort, the 'Vayu Rakshak' fleet will operate in various neighborhoods to monitor air quality, check violations, and support pollution control measures at the ground level.
Highlighting transport reforms, the Chief Minister stated that the Delhi Transport Corporation operates nearly 4,000 electric buses, the highest number in the country, with plans to induct 14,000 clean-fuel buses by 2028. She also mentioned landfill remediation, waste-to-energy projects, mechanical road sweeping, mist spraying, dust control measures, and expansion of green cover as part of the government's comprehensive strategy.
The Chief Minister said that providing clean air to the people of Delhi is a core responsibility of the government. She assured that sustained, year-round efforts would continue to improve the city's air quality, emphasizing that protecting public health remains a top priority. The event was attended by Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa and senior officials, highlighting the government's coordinated approach to environmental governance. These measures are seen as a forward-looking step towards a cleaner and healthier Delhi, underlining the government's focus on long-term and sustainable solutions to air pollution.