Reasons for Road Dust in Indian Metro Cities

There are several factors responsible for increasing road dust in metro cities. Driving speed, traffic volume, materials used for the road’s surface, and meteorological elements including wind, rain, humidity, and temperature are among these factors.

The rapid urbanization process that occurred without proper planning and preventative maintenance measures is the primary factor behind this issue. In the recent past, the country has witnessed swift construction activities that have led to deforestation and loss of natural habitat, resulting in the suspension of large amounts of dust particles in the air.

The inappropriate construction practices across the country worsen the situation. Builders and contractors rarely follow construction standards and never properly dispose of leftover construction materials. Consequently, piles of sand and cement are often abandoned on the roadside, susceptible to being carried away by the wind.

Construction activities involve the transportation of building materials like cement, sand, crushed stone, and fine sand. Inadequate transportation of these materials often leads to some portions of the materials being left on the roads. Consequently, the materials get blown away by the wind, resulting in airborne dust.

In India, most roads lack a hard shoulder and a curb, which is a cement edge that prevents loose soil from spilling onto the road. Consequently, during hot summers, dust particles tend to accumulate, while in rainy seasons, mud is commonplace.

Indian roads are frequently unpaved, consisting of dirt or gravel instead of asphalt. One of the main reasons for this is the absence of trees and vegetation along the roadway and sidewalk. As vehicles travel on these roads, they tend to kick up dust into the air.

Sand and dust accumulate on both sides of the road due to the overflow from the divider and footpath. When heavy or speedy vehicles pass by, the collected sand and dust start blowing in the air.

Indian cities have sweepers whose goal is to enhance urban areas’ aesthetic appearance by clearing street debris, litter, and dirt from the streets. However, road sweepers and their operational processes are not developed to reduce road dust. Generally, sweepers are effective in removing leaves, litter, and dirt, but they also disperse more dust particles into the air.

Sometimes, they sweep the dust and put it back in the median or gather it on the roadside, but they don’t lift it immediately. Regrettably, the following day, the dust returns to the roads, creating an unfortunate cycle.

In addition, due to extended periods of dry and windy weather, dust remains suspended in the air instead of settling. This issue is compounded by the millions of vehicles that traverse the narrow roads of India, causing them to pick up even more dust and exacerbating the problem.

The escalating number of vehicles, particularly those using fossil fuels, emits particulate matter that adds to the road dust. The wear and tear of tires and brakes further compound this issue.

Neglecting the periodic maintenance of roads is also the primary cause of the accumulation of dust particles on the road surface. When maintenance is not carried out regularly, potholes, cracks, and uneven surfaces begin to form, which collect dust, debris and other pollutants.

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