Around 33 prototypes shortlisted under the Delhi government’s innovation challenge to tackle air pollution are set to enter the second phase involving field trials, officials said.

The shortlisted solutions include solar-powered pole-mounted dust traps, filterless smoke and dust carbon-capturing devices, electrostatic mist sprayers, smart dust-suppression and monitoring systems, and retrofitted vehicle-mounted air purifiers aimed at improving emission quality.

These innovations were selected from a large pool of applications and were showcased earlier this year at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi as part of an exhibition linked to the initiative. The challenge is aimed at identifying practical and scalable solutions to address Delhi’s persistent air pollution problem.

Officials indicated that the programme is now moving into the trial phase, with the government set to provide the required infrastructure to test the technologies in real-world conditions. The trials are expected to begin in the first week of May and conclude within approximately three months.

An expert committee comprising eight members and headed by IIT professor Sagnik Dey will oversee the evaluation process. The panel will assess the effectiveness, feasibility and cost-efficiency of each solution before recommending the most viable options for wider implementation.

According to officials, a meeting is scheduled to finalise the framework for the trial phase, including logistical arrangements and evaluation parameters. All 33 shortlisted innovations are expected to undergo testing initially, after which further shortlisting will take place based on performance.

The final selected projects will be considered for adoption by the Delhi government. In addition, developers of successful technologies will be eligible for financial incentives from the Delhi Pollution Control Committee, including ₹5 lakh after expert evaluation and up to ₹50 lakh for solutions validated by accredited laboratories and recommended for large-scale deployment.

The initiative marks a step towards leveraging technology-driven solutions in addressing urban air pollution challenges.