Chandigarh has recorded a substantial improvement in its air quality throughout 2025, marking a positive shift from the previous two years, according to official data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB).
Significant Drop in Pollution Levels
An analysis of month-wise averages from CPCB monitors reveals a clear positive trend. For ten consecutive months from February to November 2025, the city's average monthly Air Quality Index (AQI) remained between 54 and 124. This consistently placed Chandigarh in the 'satisfactory' to 'moderate' categories. The only exception was January, when the average touched 232.
This performance stands in stark contrast to 2024 and 2023. In 2024, the AQI breached the 125 mark in eight months, while it did so in five months during 2023. Officials noted significant reductions from January through July, and again in the post-monsoon and early winter period, particularly in October and November.
Coordinated Efforts Behind the Gains
Authorities have attributed this environmental success to a series of coordinated, multi-departmental measures. The Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) implemented strict guidelines to combat dust, a major pollutant. These included:
- Mandating mechanised road sweeping and the use of anti-smog guns.
- Enforcing water sprinkling with GPS-enabled monitoring for transparency.
- Strictly implementing the Construction & Demolition (C&D) waste policy, requiring dust nets and proper waste disposal at project sites.
Formal notices under the Air Act were issued to several government bodies, including the Municipal Corporation, the engineering department, Railways, and institutions like Panjab University, PGIMER, and PEC, directing immediate corrective actions on dust control and waste management.
Sustainable Strategy and Future Goals
Saurabh Kumar, Director Environment-cum-Member Secretary of CPCC, explained that the improvement is a result of a structured plan. Working under the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), the CPCC prepared a detailed City Air Action Plan.
"It combines short-term steps — like emergency road sprinkling and construction regulation — with long-term goals such as expanding green cover, accelerating electric vehicle adoption, traffic management, and improved public transport," Kumar stated.
He added that the administration is developing green buffer zones in pollution-prone areas and running Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) campaigns to raise public awareness about the health impacts of air pollution. The data underscores that sustained and vigilant efforts can lead to tangible improvements in urban air quality, setting a benchmark for other cities.
