Maharashtra’s Environment Minister Pankaja Munde announced on Saturday that the state government is crafting a policy to mandate precast construction for real estate firms in Mumbai, aiming to slash air pollution. Speaking in the city, Munde said the policy, targeting both private and public projects, will offer incentives to shift from traditional on-site building to precast methods, where components are made off-site and assembled locally.

“Precast construction allows builders to source ready-made parts from outside Mumbai, cutting down on-site activities that harm the climate. This will drastically reduce air pollution,” Munde explained. She highlighted that traditional methods involve dust-heavy operations, while precast components, manufactured in controlled factory settings, minimize carbon emissions. “We want these factories outside the city,” she added, noting that though transportation costs may rise, the approach curbs waste of steel and cement, ensures quality, and lowers environmental impact.

Munde emphasized that the government has already cracked down on construction sites flouting pollution norms. The precast policy, she said, aligns with broader efforts to clean Mumbai’s air. “It’ll be rolled out soon, alongside a task force roadmap to tackle pollution,” she assured. The move comes amid growing concerns over Mumbai’s air quality, with the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation recently ordering eateries and bakeries to switch from coal and firewood to green fuels by July.

The policy reflects a strategic push to balance urban development with sustainability. By incentivizing off-site manufacturing, the state aims to ease the environmental strain of Mumbai’s booming real estate sector, notorious for contributing to dust and emissions. Munde’s announcement signals a proactive step toward greener construction practices in one of India’s most polluted megacities.