As you drive through Dwarka, don’t be surprised to see streetlight poles spraying a fine mist into the air. This is Delhi’s new Automatic Anti-Smog Misting System. Launched on Friday by L-G V K Saxena, it is part of the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) measures to tackle winter air pollution. Currently, the system has been installed on a 7-km stretch along road numbers 224 and 210. It features 166 streetlight poles equipped with 30 high-pressure misting nozzles each, positioned at a height of five metres to maximise coverage. How does it work? The nozzles, which release RO-treated water at a rate of 2.8 litres per hour, are designed to help reduce suspended particulate matter, dust, and fine pollutants in the air. Launched the operations of fully automated anti-smog misting system in Dwarka today, expanding the measures to curb the annual phenomenon of winter air pollution in Delhi. The automated misting system installed by DDA has been modified from the system that was used for trials… pic.twitter.com/URA0kSNesp — LG Delhi (@LtGovDelhi) October 10, 2025 The initiative builds upon a pilot project launched in November last year on a 550-metre stretch in Dwarka, where misting nozzles were installed on 14 poles. The upgraded version, inaugurated on Friday, now covers key stretches between Chandanwari Apartments in Sector 10 and Omaxe Mall in Sector 19, and from the Command Tank in Sector 20 to the Dwarka Sector 21 Metro Station. Officials said that the anti-smog misting system would serve multiple purposes. “When the mist sprayed in the air falls on the ground, it would help in settling dust particles on the roads that are otherwise suspended in the air, with vehicular movement. It would also prevent settling of dust on the plants and trees along the stretch,” an official said. Three dedicated pump houses have been constructed to maintain the water supply, supported by an advanced RO system that reduces Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) from 2000 to 50. The waste water from the RO process will be reused for irrigation to minimise wastage. Speaking at the inauguration, Saxena said, “Every winter, Delhi faces severe air pollution issues that affect everyone. The government is taking several measures to combat this menace. I appeal to the people to take every possible step to curb air pollution. Even small measures can have a big impact on the city’s air quality.” Officials said the project is expected to serve as a model for similar installations across Delhi, combining technological and behavioural interventions to mitigate the effects of winter pollution.
