CSIR-CRRI, Haryana Government Sign Pact for Cleaner Urban Roads

SPA New Delhi Director Prof. Virendra Kumar Paul stressed the importance of combining urban planning with practical implementation on the ground.

A new partnership between the Government of Haryana and the CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CSIR-CRRI) is set to bring major changes to the way urban roads are developed and maintained across the state. The agreement, signed at CSIR-CRRI in New Delhi, will support the implementation of a scientific framework focused on paving, greening, and better management of urban roads to tackle road dust pollution in the National Capital Region (NCR).

The project, titled Implementation of the Standard Framework for Paving and Greening of Urban Roads (Haryana State), will be carried out jointly by CSIR-CRRI and the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi. The initiative is being implemented in collaboration with the Haryana Government under the guidance of the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM).

Scientific Solutions and Urban Planning to Improve Air Quality

Speaking at the event, CSIR-CRRI Director Dr. Ch. Ravi Sekhar highlighted the growing need for technology-backed solutions that can reduce road dust and improve air quality in rapidly expanding urban areas. He noted that research-based interventions can help create cleaner roads while also making cities safer and more sustainable for residents.

SPA New Delhi Director Prof. Virendra Kumar Paul stressed the importance of combining urban planning with practical implementation on the ground. He said cleaner road networks require coordinated efforts that take into account both infrastructure needs and environmental concerns.

Haryana's Commissioner and Secretary of the Urban Local Bodies Department, Ashok Kumar, welcomed the collaboration and expressed confidence that the framework would help local bodies address one of the key sources of urban air pollution. He also reaffirmed the state's commitment to ensuring the recommendations are effectively put into practice.

Four-Part Strategy Focuses on Dust Control and Better Road Management

Road dust remains one of the largest contributors to particulate pollution in the NCR. To address this issue, CAQM had earlier issued a Standard Framework and Detailed Guidance Document for Paving and Greening of Urban Roads based on recommendations prepared by CSIR-CRRI. The newly signed agreement will convert those recommendations into action through a structured implementation programme across Haryana. The project has been designed around four major components. These include developing standard road cross-sections and space allocation guidelines, increasing greening measures within road corridors, strengthening maintenance practices through a Road Asset Management System (RAMS), and introducing innovative technologies for road construction and upkeep.

Dr. S. D. Atri, Member (Technical) of CAQM, said reducing road dust emissions requires close coordination among research institutions, government departments, and urban local bodies. He described the framework as an important tool for lowering particulate pollution levels across the NCR. The Memorandum of Agreement was exchanged in the presence of senior officials from CAQM, the Haryana Government, CSIR-CRRI, and SPA New Delhi. The programme concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by Dr. Vinod Karar, Scientist-G and Head of the Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Division at CSIR-CRRI.