Delhi Steps Up Pollution Control With AI Cameras and Digital Monitoring

Delhi is boosting up pollution control measures ahead of winter by deploying AI-powered cameras, real-time air quality monitoring, and digital tracking of road-cleaning machines. The city's Integrated Command and reduce Center (ICCC) monitors pollution levels at various places, inspects building sites for violations, and tracks mechanical road sweepers to reduce dust. The project aims to improve pollution monitoring and allow authorities to respond more quickly to infractions.

The control center tracks live Air Quality Index (AQI) readings from several places throughout Delhi. During a recent visit by News18, its dashboard displayed 33 spots in the moderate category and 21 in the bad category. The ICCC also monitors 81 mechanical road sweepers via a specialized dashboard. Rather than allowing dust to spread into the air, these devices gather dirt from roads using brushes and vacuum technology.

A digital map shows the routes covered by each machine. The system also tracks driver details and vehicle speed. Officials say this helps them check whether road-cleaning work is being carried out properly. For example, if a machine moves too fast, it may indicate that the road is not being cleaned effectively. The locations of these machines are decided by Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) zonal officers.

Construction dust is another major concern during Delhi's pollution season. To address this, the control centre uses AI-powered cameras to monitor construction sites and identify possible violations of pollution-control rules.

When the system detects a possible issue, it can alert the concerned enforcement teams. Officials are also planning to expand the camera network, with 100 additional locations identified for installation over the next two to three months.

The ICCC also receives information about pollution-related violations from field inspection teams. Citizens can report problems through the centre's toll-free helpline, allowing officials to take further action.

Delhi's use of AI surveillance, live AQI monitoring, and mechanical road cleaning shows how technology is becoming part of its pollution-control strategy. However, the real success of these measures will depend on how quickly officials respond to alerts and take action on the ground.

This article is based on information from News 18