Mumbai records only one severe AQI day in 2025, BMC data shows

Mumbai has seen a 95 per cent decrease in the number of lsquoseverersquo Air Quality Index AQI days in the past four years from 40 in 2022 to only one in 2025 according to information from Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC In contrast the city has seen a 21 per cent increase in lsquogoodrsquo and lsquosatisfactoryrsquo air quality days from 21 days in the lsquogoodrsquo category in 2022 to 55 in 2025 and 153 days in the lsquosatisfactoryrsquo category in 2022 to 162 in 2025Sumaira Abdulali Awaaz FoundationEffectively this means Mumbai has seen better air quality year on year going by civic body data Referring to how air quality determines the quality of life driving growth and investments a senior civic official told midday ldquoIt is a priority to maintain and improve air quality in Mumbai We must also see that the city is a crucial business centre Bad AQI can have a direct impact on growthrdquoRecent percentagesMumbai faced a nearsevere crisis of bad AQI as it emerged from the coronavirus pandemic after 2022 That year Mumbai saw 40 lsquoseverersquo days mdash in the red category in lay terms and 150 lsquomoderatersquo days In 2023 there were 35 lsquoseverersquo days and 145 lsquomoderatersquo days In contrast this year Mumbai has recorded 112 days in the lsquomoderatersquo categoryA senior civic official said ldquoWe aim to reduce the number of lsquomoderatersquo days further and increase the number of lsquosatisfactoryrsquo and lsquogoodrsquo days for Mumbairdquo In 2023 BMC released 27 guidelines to curb air pollution in the city A year later it added yet another point This 28point agenda is meant to control dust arising from construction in the city regulate road dust from vehicles emerging from construction sites and curb onroad pollution through regular washing and cleaning The BMC has subsequently cracked down on bakeries across Mumbai to control pollution from cooking fuelCitizens speakShishir Joshi CEO and founder of Project Mumbai said ldquoWhile there are multiple climatic reasons which result in air quality improving or worsening a critical aspect that cannot be ignored is citizensrsquo awareness and the role of civil society in enhancing that In the past few months very few acronyms have gained as much traction as AQI It has been a conversation starter a visible indicator through growing appearances of masks and not thus ensuring the state in this case the BMC is far more alert than otherwise is mdash compelling accountability While data always is a great indicator what needs to grow is not just awareness but informed conversation surrounding AQI and what we as citizens should be doing to hold the authorities accountablerdquoProject Mumbai is bringing the global climate conversation to India and the city to host the Mumbai Climate Week in February Sumaira Abdulali of the Awaaz Foundation said ldquoIt is distressing to see the government constantly saying that AQI has improved when we are all clearly experiencing the health side effects of bad air quality Data that shows improved air quality in Mumbai should account for the experiences of people Each country uses different formulas and methodologies for calculating this index and there is nothing wrong with that However when an average is taken of major pollutants including PM25 and PM10 it is easy to get several good and satisfactory days The Central Pollution Control Board has changed the formula for calculating AQI We donrsquot look at PM25 concentrations in the air alone anymore Yet PM25 is what we actually breathe Itrsquos why we continue to experience bad air even though the data shows an improvementrdquo