Mumbai woke up to unhealthy air on Tuesday morning as the city-wide Air Quality Index (AQI) climbed to 178 by 10 a.m., firmly in the “unhealthy for sensitive groups” category. Primary culprits were particulate matter PM10 at 126.07 µg/m³ and PM2.5 at 63.1 µg/m³—both well above the 24-hour safe limits of 100 µg/m³ and 60 µg/m³, respectively, according to Central Pollution Control Board standards. These microscopic pollutants, generated mainly by vehicular exhaust, construction dust, road re-suspension, and industrial emissions, can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream, triggering asthma attacks, bronchitis, and long-term cardiovascular damage.

The deterioration follows a brief respite last week when strong sea breezes and aggressive dust-control measures had pushed the AQI below 150. However, calmer winds and the resumption of large-scale infrastructure projects—coupled with Mumbai’s perennial traffic congestion—have reversed the gains. Areas such as Mazgaon, Chembur, and Navi Mumbai recorded pockets of “very poor” air (AQI 201-300), while even upscale localities like Worli and Bandra Kurla Complex hovered close to 190. Doctors have reported a 15-20 per cent surge in respiratory OPD cases since the weekend.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has intensified enforcement, issuing stop-work notices to 264 construction sites since November 26 for non-compliance with its 28-point dust mitigation protocol. Flying squads are conducting round-the-clock inspections across 94 wards, mandating water sprinkling, anti-smog guns, and wind-barrier screens. Road-washing machines have been deployed on major arteries, and the civic body claims over 70 per cent of monitored sites are now compliant—yet the sheer volume of ongoing metro, coastal road, and high-rise projects continues to generate massive dust loads.

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Health experts are advising citizens, especially children, the elderly, and those with heart or lung conditions, to limit outdoor exertion, keep windows closed during peak traffic hours, and use N95 masks when stepping out. Schools in several areas have curtailed outdoor sports, while some corporate offices in BKC and Andheri have shifted to hybrid work models, citing employee health concerns. Air purifier sales have spiked 40 per cent in the past week, according to major retailers.

Although Mumbai is not under the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) enforced in Delhi-NCR, the BMC has borrowed elements such as mechanical road sweeping and restrictions on diesel generator sets. Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani has directed additional nighttime water sprinkling and stricter checks on open burning of waste. Long-term solutions, however, hinge on faster transition to electric public transport, stricter emission norms for the city’s ageing fleet of buses and taxis, and completion of green corridors along major highways.

As winter approaches and temperature inversion traps pollutants closer to the ground, authorities warn that AQI could breach the “very poor” mark if current trends persist. With construction activity unlikely to slow down amid the city’s infrastructure boom, Mumbai’s battle for breathable air remains a daily challenge—one that demands coordinated action between civic bodies, developers, and citizens alike.

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