The National Highways Authority of India has started installing emission-control devices on 25 diesel generator sets operating along an 8.7-km stretch of the Dwarka Expressway, in a move aimed at reducing pollution from equipment used for road lighting and other essential highway operations.
The devices, known as Retrofit Emission Control Devices (RECDs), are being fitted on the section running from Basai to the cloverleaf interchange connecting the expressway with the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway near Kherki Dhaula. The corridor is part of a key road link between Delhi and Gurgaon.
NHAI’s initiative comes as the National Capital Region prepares for another winter season of poor air quality. During this period, restrictions under the Graded Response Action Plan may lead to stricter controls on emissions, including those from diesel generator sets. The Commission for Air Quality Management has directed authorities to regulate the use of DG sets across the NCR, particularly during winter.
Diesel generator sets are often used to support essential services and infrastructure operations when a dependable power supply is unavailable or additional power is required. On the expressway, the sets support road lighting and other operations needed to keep the corridor functional. Their continued use can nevertheless produce pollutants, making emission controls relevant even when the equipment serves essential public infrastructure.
According to NHAI, the RECD installation process includes fitting, testing and commissioning each device, followed by maintenance support. The authority has also required GPS-tagged photographs of installations at each DG set or location to be maintained for verification and compliance.
The monitoring requirement creates a location-specific record of the devices installed along the expressway stretch. It is intended to support verification that the equipment has been fitted and commissioned at the identified sites, while maintenance support is expected to help keep the systems operational.
NHAI said the installations form part of its broader effort to incorporate environmental safeguards into the construction and operation of national highways in the NCR. The immediate work is focused on the 25 diesel generator sets located along the Basai-to-Kherki Dhaula section, with testing and commissioning included in the implementation process.
