New Delhi, October 23 (Udaipur Kiran News): Delhi’s air quality showed significant improvement on Thursday, with the Air Quality Index (AQI) dropping by nearly 50 points in a single day, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said after a high-level review meeting with senior officials.
Sirsa noted that the city’s AQI currently stands at 305, compared to a much higher level a day earlier. He credited the improvement to the Delhi government’s round-the-year pollution control strategy and intensified on-ground enforcement efforts across pollution hotspots.
“This clear improvement shows that the strong, coordinated actions taken at the ground level are yielding results,” Sirsa said, adding that all departments have been directed to continuously monitor pollution-prone zones through the Green War Room and maintain inter-departmental coordination.
2,000 teams active on the ground
Sirsa said around 2,000 teams are working day and night across Delhi. “Our model is not just for winter but is based on year-round accountability and transparency,” he said, emphasizing that efforts are focused on both immediate control and long-term environmental sustainability.
He announced that soon the government will deploy 70 new mechanized sweepers, 70 additional anti-smog guns, water sprinklers, and 140 litter pickers, covering nearly 1,440 kilometres of city roads. The government is also promoting innovation through the ongoing ‘Delhi Clean Air Challenge’ and, in collaboration with IIT Kanpur and the India Meteorological Department (IMD), plans to begin cloud seeding experiments soon.
Strict monitoring and enforcement
The minister highlighted that 578 teams from the Transport Department and other agencies, along with 505 mobile prosecution teams (974 officers) of Delhi Traffic Police, are conducting strict checks on pollution under control (PUC) compliance, smoke emission, and engine idling violations.
As of October 23, 2025, Delhi has the strongest dust control infrastructure so far — with 376 anti-smog guns (up from 335 last year), 266 water sprinklers (up from 259), and 91 mechanized road sweepers (up from 83).
Sirsa added that the government is rapidly expanding the use of electric vehicles (EVs) to reduce transport-related emissions.
“Delhi is cleaning its air through action, not just words. Every machine and officer has a defined responsibility,” Sirsa said, asserting that the city’s 25-point Winter Action Plan is focused on a science-based and citizen-driven model.
He concluded that while the current improvement in AQI is encouraging, the Delhi government’s ultimate goal is not temporary relief but lasting, sustainable change in air quality.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.