Hyderabad: The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) will increase train services by 20 trips on weekdays from Thursday, October 22, as Delhi-NCR steps up efforts to curb rising air pollution under Stage I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).
Alongside the additional services, the corporation is strengthening dust-control measures at construction sites and on roads under its jurisdiction. The move is aimed at encouraging commuters to switch from private vehicles to public transport while limiting dust generated by construction activity.
In a post on X on Wednesday evening, DMRC said the extra train trips were intended to make public transport more accessible to commuters. It also announced intensified anti-pollution drives at construction sites and surrounding areas across the national capital.
The measures follow the Commission for Air Quality Management’s (CAQM) decision to implement GRAP Stage I across Delhi-NCR on Wednesday after Delhi’s Air Quality Index (AQI) deteriorated to the ‘poor’ category.
As part of the intensified drive, DMRC will focus on clearing accumulated dust from roads near construction sites, removing garbage from footpaths and road medians, and controlling dust at work sites.
Metro engineers will inspect construction areas and adjoining roads to check whether construction materials are properly covered and wheel-washing facilities are operational for vehicles leaving the sites. These steps are intended to prevent dust from construction activity from spreading to nearby areas.
DMRC said the additional efforts would reinforce the pollution-control measures it already follows. Around 31 kilometres of roads are currently under the corporation’s temporary jurisdiction for metro construction. The corporation said it had already repaired most of these stretches to prevent them from contributing further to pollution.
More than 250 anti-smog guns and mist guns have also been deployed at construction sites, metro stations and office buildings to control dust levels. DMRC’s Environment Department carries out daily inspections to monitor compliance with environmental norms.