Ambient air quality assessment and modelling across phases of road construction: A case study of the Jalgaon-Bhadgaon state highway, India
Paper Details
Ambient air quality assessment and modelling across phases of road construction: A case study of the Jalgaon-Bhadgaon state highway, India
Abstract
Highway construction, a critical driver of economic growth in developing nations like India, is a significant but understudied source of ambient air pollution. While numerous studies have modelled urban air quality, a gap exists in phase-specific, empirical assessments of pollution from road construction activities. This study presents a detailed assessment of ambient air quality across all construction phases of the Jalgaon-Bhadgaon State Highway (NH-753J), Maharashtra. Monitoring of PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, and CO was conducted at seven strategic locations (including intersections and straight sections) using High-Volume Samplers following CPCB guidelines. Results indicate that initial phases, Cleaning & Grubbing, Granular Sub-Base, and Wet Mix Macadam, were the most polluting, with PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations exceeding National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) by up to 169%. Major intersections showed 30-45% higher pollution levels compared to straight sections due to vehicular congestion. A significant surge in CO levels (5-7 ppm) was recorded during asphalt-related activities (Base and Top Coat). The study concludes that pollution mitigation efforts, such as mandatory water sprinkling and optimised traffic management, must be phase-specific and focused on high-risk zones like junctions. This research provides a robust dataset for validating air quality models and formulating targeted policies for sustainable infrastructure development.
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