Mumbai's Air Quality Crisis Deepens as BMC Considers Emergency Measures
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation is preparing to implement stringent air pollution control measures as several parts of Mumbai continue to record dangerously poor air quality levels. With multiple locations consistently reporting Air Quality Index readings above 200, the civic body is considering activating the Graded Response Action Plan to address the growing environmental concern.
GRAP: Mumbai's Emergency Pollution Control Plan
During a crucial meeting chaired by Municipal Commissioner Bhushan Gagrani on November 25, 2025, civic authorities discussed the immediate implementation of GRAP measures. The Graded Response Action Plan, designed by the Commission for Air Quality Management, represents a multi-stage approach to combat deteriorating air conditions.
The comprehensive plan includes potentially drastic measures such as complete stoppage of construction activities, restrictions on vehicle entry into city limits, and limitations on vehicular movement across Mumbai. The trigger for implementing these measures would be if Mumbai records AQI readings above 200 for three consecutive days.
Worsening Air Quality Across Mumbai Neighborhoods
Current air quality data reveals a concerning pattern across Mumbai. On Wednesday, 10 out of 21 monitoring stations recorded poor AQI levels, while nine stations showed moderate air quality. Only one station managed to record satisfactory readings, indicating the widespread nature of the pollution problem.
The most severely affected areas include Mazgaon with AQI 269, Mulund at 265, Malad and Borivali both at 250, Powai at 214, Andheri at 205, and Deonar at 204. Despite these localized hotspots, Mumbai's overall AQI stood at 189, which falls in the moderate category.
The persistence of poor air quality in certain localities is particularly alarming. Mazgaon has experienced poor AQI for 11 consecutive days, while Deonar has recorded 14 poor AQI days this month alone. Malad has witnessed 12 days of poor air quality in just 12 days, highlighting the severity of the situation.
Immediate Actions and Expert Analysis
BMC officials have initiated immediate response measures. "We are compiling data of the number of construction works that are underway in these locations. By tomorrow morning we will issue an SOP as a mitigation measure against the bad AQI," a civic official revealed on Wednesday.
The administration has already begun issuing notices to construction site owners, mandating the installation of hyperlocal AQI monitoring systems. This move aims to ensure that dust mitigation protocols are strictly followed at all construction sites across the city.
Meteorological experts attribute the worsening air quality to specific weather patterns. Mahesh Palawat, Vice President of Meteorology at Skymet Weather, explained: "Once the temperature starts dropping, the wind pattern gets slowed down due to which the suspended particulate matter stays trapped in the atmosphere for a prolonged period."
Palawat further noted that "the city's air quality has already started to dip after the monsoon withdrawal took place mainly because when the rains are there, a natural cleansing of the atmosphere takes place." The recent unseasonal rains provided temporary relief, but with their absence, pollution levels have begun climbing again.
The combination of cooling winds becoming heavier and reduced wind speeds creates ideal conditions for pollutants to remain suspended in the lower atmosphere, leading to the smog and mist-like conditions currently affecting Mumbai residents.
