As Delhi’s air quality worsened on Saturday, slipping into the ‘very poor’ category, with an overall Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 303 compared to 218 recorded the day before, Delhi Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Saturday conducted an on-ground inspection of the Anand Vihar Bus Terminal hotspot, one of Delhi’s pollution hotspots.
According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), the city’s average Air Quality Index stood at 303 at 4 pm, indicating a sharp decline in air quality. Wazirpur reported the highest pollution level in the city with an AQI of 383, placing it in the ‘very poor’ category, according to data on the CPCB’s Sameer app.
Out of 38 monitoring stations in the national capital, 26 recorded air quality in the ‘very poor’ category (above 300), while the remaining stations fell in the ‘poor’ category (below 300).
During the inspection at Anand Vihar, Sirsa also reviewed the Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring system installed at the site. “This key road stretch at Anand Vihar has been closed for decades. Our government will now ensure it is opened for public commute, easing congestion and reducing local dust pollution. Delhi is witnessing real, measurable progress in pollution control and infrastructure improvement,” Sirsa said.
During his inspection, the Minister took note of a small unpaved road patch at the bus terminal entrance, which had remained incomplete for years due to presence of three small trees. Calling it a “classic example of bureaucratic neglect by previous Governments,” he directed officials to immediately initiate the process of tree transplantation and pave the road, enabling smoother vehicle flow, decongest area, and reducing dust emissions.
He directed officials to deploy additional traffic personnel to decongest roads, ensure buses halt only at designated bays, and operate movable anti-smog guns and mist sprayers during peak hours. The minister took note of a long-pending patch of unpaved road at the entrance of the Anand Vihar bus terminal, which, he said, had been neglected for years due to the presence of trees. Sirsa also directed the transport department to increase Traffic personnel to prevent roadside congestion especially on the slip road and ensure buses halt only at designated bays.
Speaking on the occasion, Sirsa said the Delhi Government has intensified its Winter Action Plan with special emphasis on the 13 identified pollution hotspots. “There are 13 main hotspots where pollution is very high, and our government is continuously working on those areas. All hotspots are being extra-monitored. Our goal is to address the traffic congestion at these hotspots, the lack of road management, and the degraded infrastructure there. The MCD, DTC, and PWD have taken strict action against the instructions issued three days ago,” the minister added. “Each hotspot has unique challenges, and our teams are addressing them scientifically. Be it road dust, traffic management, or industrial emissions, we are ensuring strict compliance and targeted interventions,” Sirsa said.
The AQI reported at Anand Vihar was 298, Alipur 258, Ashok Vihar 287, Burari Crossing 264, Chandani Chowk 299, Dwarka Sector-8 260, ITO 275, Jahangirpuri 300, Mandir Marg 204, Mundka 259, Najafgarh 214, Narela 283, Okhla Phase-2 248, Patparganj 274, Punjabi Bagh 265, RK Puram 298, Rohini 281 and Sirifort 295 - all categorised as ‘poor’ as of 8 am. But Aya Nagar recorded a ‘moderate’ air quality index (AQI) of 182, while IGI Airport (T3) reported an AQI of 188 and DTU recorded an AQI of 181. In contrast, IHBAS Dilshad Garden had a relatively better AQI of 124, and Lodhi Road recorded an AQI of 150.’Very poor air quality was recorded at Wazirpur with an AQI of 328, and at Bawana, an AQI of 301.