Bengaluru’s air quality in 2023 has raised serious concerns, with the city’s annual nitrogen dioxide (NO2) levels almost double the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended standards, according to a Greenpeace India report. The City Railway Station (Majestic) emerged as the most polluted area, showing elevated NO2 levels for 295 days, significantly impacting public health.
The report, titled Beyond North, assessed NO2 concentrations in seven densely populated Indian cities — Jaipur, Pune, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Chennai. The findings, based on data from the Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring (CAAQM) network, show that Chennai had the highest number of days exceeding the WHO safe limit of 10 micrograms per cubic meter, with 314 days or 86% of the year. Other cities such as Pune and Hyderabad had similarly concerning NO2 levels, while Bengaluru recorded elevated concentrations for 295 days.
Among Bengaluru’s monitored areas, the City Railway Station saw the most significant pollution, with other areas like Hombegowda Nagar, Bapuji Nagar, and Peenya also affected. However, Kasturi Nagar had no days exceeding the limit. Eight out of 13 stations in the city reported average NO2 levels above 20 micrograms per cubic meter.
The report attributes these high pollution levels to the transportation sector, particularly the increase in private vehicles. Greenpeace India’s Selomi Garniak emphasized the need for sustainable public transportation to address air quality issues and public health concerns.
Read also