Written by PPL Newsroom• October 2, 2026• 2:34 am• Policy

Delhi opens AI-backed control centre to track pollution sources round the clock

The DPCC’s new command centre links cameras, GPS-tracked road sweepers and air quality data, with 707 construction sites under watch ahead of winter.

Delhi has opened a command centre that tracks pollution sources across the city in real time, just as the winter smog season approaches. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta inaugurated the Delhi Pollution Control Committee’s (DPCC) Integrated Command and Control Centre on Thursday, 1 October, at the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation’s IT Park in Shastri Park. According to the government, the aim is to turn data into quick action on the ground.

What the centre will do

The centre brings together artificial intelligence, CCTV cameras, GPS tracking and complaint data. It will watch more than 700 construction sites of over 500 square metres through AI and CCTV, around the clock. Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa said 707 sites are under watch at present.

Here is how the system is meant to work in practice:

Dust alerts: The system will alert the department concerned and the site owner when PM10 levels rise at a monitored site. PM10 is coarse dust, a common by-product of construction.
Road sweeping: Mechanical sweepers are linked to GPS, so officials can see their locations, operating hours, distance covered and whether designated areas were cleaned.
Burning: New cameras will monitor open waste and biomass burning.
Air quality data: The centre will monitor all air quality stations and study current and historical data. This will show where pollution is rising and whether sweeping or water sprinkling is needed, the minister said.
Accountability: Body cameras are now mandatory for DPCC officials inspecting industries and other polluting sites.

Staff will work in three shifts. Sirsa said 78 sub-division-level teams will carry out monitoring and enforcement through the centre during winter. He added that the centre was built in under six months and will act as a “war room” in the cold months.

A “Detect, Analyse, Act, Verify” approach

According to a release reported by Impressive Times, the chief minister described the core principle as detecting a problem, analysing it, acting immediately and then verifying the outcome. The government says the centre is meant to do more than collect data.

The government also launched a public channel. Through the new “Jan Suggestion” portal, residents can submit pollution complaints, suggestions and information about initiatives to reduce pollution.

The centre will also support the “No PUC, No Fuel” rule. Sirsa said monitoring of the rule would be strengthened by connecting automatic number plate recognition cameras to the command centre. PUC is the pollution-under-control certificate for vehicles.

What this means for India

Delhi’s air pollution comes from many sources at once, including dust, burning and vehicles. Acting on each one needs timely, site-level information. The centre is a test of whether linking cameras, sensors, GPS and complaints on one platform can speed up enforcement. Other Indian cities with winter pollution spikes may watch how it performs. The government has not yet published results, so its effect on air quality is unproven. Residents can follow whether alerts lead to visible action at construction sites and on roads.

Building on earlier efforts

Delhi has tried real-time source tracking before. In 2023, the previous government inaugurated a supersite at Rouse Avenue, with the DPCC working alongside IIT Kanpur, IIT Delhi and TERI. That project aims to assess hourly how much vehicles, construction, biomass burning and other factors contribute to pollution.

The new centre is aimed at field enforcement. Earlier this year, Sirsa announced plans for an agreement with IIT Kanpur’s AIRAWAT Research Foundation. It is expected to cover hyperlocal monitoring, predictive forecasting and source identification. Sirsa described it as a knowledge collaboration with no immediate financial burden on the Delhi government. The reports do not say how the centre will use that work.

The launch comes as Delhi’s air is already worsening. LatestLY reported that the city recorded its most polluted start to October in four years, with an Air Quality Index of 166. The coming weeks will show how quickly the centre’s alerts turn into inspections and fines.