Hyperlocal air quality monitoring identifies pollution hotspots in Indian cities: Study

A new report combines hyperlocal monitoring and advanced data analytics to decode city-level pollution patterns, revealing granular insights into urban air quality hotspots

India’s urban areas have much more localised and varied air pollution than was previously thought. A new report has provided an analysis of air quality across 10 major Indian cities, including hyperlocal insights into pollution hotspots. The report identified critical pollution hotspots across 10 Indian cities, including Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, and others to unveil the state of air quality presently outside the ambit of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ambient air quality monitoring network.

The report by Respirer Living Sciences combined air quality analysis from its AtlasAQ Platform using CPCB’s monitoring data for November 2024 and overlaid spatial insights from Google Maps Air Quality application programming interface (API). Google has partnered with Respirer on the AirView+ initiative to enhance air quality monitoring across India.

According to the report, Delhi breathed severe pollution levels, with PM2.5 levels exceeding 300 µg/m³ in hotspots like Anand Vihar and Jahangirpuri, driven by industrial emissions and vehicular congestion. 

Hotspots in Delhi

Mumbai recorded moderate pollution, with hotspots like Shivaji Nagar and Kandivali exceeding 100 µg/m³ due to construction dust and waste processing. Kolkata and Patna showed significant seasonal impacts, with crop residue burning and older transport infrastructure contributing to elevated PM2.5 levels in Sealdah and Samanpura. 

The report found relatively cleaner air in Bengaluru and Chennai but localised spikes in areas like Peenya and Manali due to industrial activities and traffic corridors was noted. Cities such as Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Hyderabad, and Chandigarh revealed critical hotspots tied to rapid urbanisation or construction, insufficient green buffers, and industrial activities. 

The need for hotspot monitoring

The report said that hotspot monitoring is vital for pinpointing localised pollution sources and enabling targeted interventions like emission controls, green buffers, and low-emission zones. Unlike regional averages, it identifies high-risk areas, protecting vulnerable populations and guiding policy decisions. 

Traditional systems like CPCB’s monitoring stations provide reliable, location-specific data, while technologies like AtlasAQ enhance this by translating raw data into detailed pollutant maps. Google AirView+, through its hyperlocal 500×500 meter grid, complements this by integrating multiple data sources, including sensors, traffic, and satellite data, to reveal previously unnoticed hotspots. Together, these technologies provide granular, actionable insights, transforming urban air quality management, the report added.

“Hyperlocal air quality monitoring bridges the gap between traditional broad-scale assessments and the localised realities of air pollution. By providing fine-grained, real-time data, this approach enables us to pinpoint pollution sources with accuracy and design targeted interventions that can improve public health outcomes,” said Prof Sachchida Nand Tripathi, chair, steering committee, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and dean, Kotak School of Sustainability, IIT Kanpur.

Tackling air pollution 

The report outlined actionable recommendations to address urban air pollution, including implementing targeted emission controls and expanding low-emission zones; integrating urban forestry and green infrastructure to act as natural pollution buffers, and promoting public awareness through real-time data tools and educational campaigns. 

The report recommended that stricter regulations must be given top priority by governments in order to reduce emissions from significant sources, such as automobiles and factories. The release of dangerous pollutants can be greatly decreased by enforcing adherence to emission guidelines. Reducing vehicle pollution and fostering cleaner, healthier surroundings can be achieved by creating pedestrian-friendly zones and establishing low-emission zones in heavily populated areas. 

The report also said that mobile applications and digital platforms can provide real-time air quality data, enabling individuals to make informed decisions about their daily activities. By increasing public knowledge of the causes and effects of air pollution, educational initiatives can promote an environmentally conscious culture. Public involvement fosters a shared desire for cleaner cities in addition to raising individual awareness, the report added. 

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