The Delhi government has approved a ₹100 crore plan to deploy 1,000 truck-mounted anti-smog guns across the city during the winter pollution season. The initiative is planned for three years and is aimed primarily at controlling road dust on stretches managed by the Public Works Department (PWD).
Fleet to Expand From Existing 200
Delhi currently has more than 200 anti-smog guns operated by the PWD, along with around 350 mist poles installed at locations experiencing high traffic and dust pollution.
The new plan will significantly expand the fleet, with the government submitting the proposal to the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).
Deployment Planned From 2026
The new machines are expected to operate on designated PWD roads from September to June each year between 2026 and 2029.
The trucks will make multiple rounds on assigned routes each day, spraying fine water mist to suppress dust. Their movements will be tracked through GPS, while duty and road-operation logs will also be maintained.
Contractors to Operate the Vehicles
The PWD will not directly purchase or own the trucks and equipment. Instead, contractors will operate them under the ₹100-crore arrangement, with the cost covering fuel and other operational expenses.
The exact routes and daily distance targets are still being finalised. Officials expect the vehicles to operate in two 12-hour shifts to ensure regular coverage.
Focus Limited to PWD Roads
The anti-smog guns will be deployed only on designated PWD roads wider than 18 metres, which account for roughly 4% of Delhi’s road network.
The primary objective is to keep these road stretches regularly treated for dust suppression during the pollution season.
Environmental Messages on Vehicles
Apart from spraying water, the vehicles will also display environment-related messages as part of the initiative.
The expansion is intended to strengthen Delhi’s existing dust-control measures during the winter months, although the effectiveness of anti-smog guns in improving overall air quality remains a matter of debate.