Thu May 08 03:30:00 UTC 2025: ## Bengaluru Choking: Air Pollution Reaches Critical Levels

**Bengaluru, India (May 8, 2025)** – A new study by Respirer Living Sciences reveals that Bengaluru’s air pollution has reached alarming levels, with PM10 pollutants consistently exceeding national standards for four consecutive years. The city’s rapidly increasing vehicle population (estimated at 1.2 crore, nearly matching its population), coupled with inadequate road maintenance and lax enforcement of pollution regulations, are the primary culprits.

The study highlighted significantly high PM10 levels at various monitoring stations across the city, including Silk Board Junction, RVCE-Mailasandra, City Railway Station, and Kasturi Nagar, as well as residential areas like BTM Layout and Hombegowda Nagar. The declining tree cover exacerbates the problem.

Experts point to several contributing factors: poorly maintained roads generating excessive dust, a lack of daily road sweeping (even in central business districts), and widespread construction debris. While the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) attempted to address the issue with manual cleaning after its mechanical sweeping contract expired, the efforts have proven insufficient due to limited funding and malfunctioning equipment.

The problem is further compounded by the high number of aging vehicles (over 21 lakh two-wheelers and 7 lakh cars older than 15 years) rarely scrapped despite a national policy encouraging the removal of older, more polluting vehicles. Construction sites, lacking adequate dust control measures, also contribute significantly to the pollution.

The Greenpeace India assessment ‘Spare the Air-2’ and a 2024 Lancet report highlighted the severe health consequences of Bengaluru’s air pollution, emphasizing that even levels below Indian standards pose significant health risks. Concerns were also raised about the adequacy of air quality monitoring stations in the city. While the city currently has 18 monitoring stations, experts recommend a greater number, especially in high-pollution areas, and suggest using a mix of static and mobile sensors for more accurate data collection.

The situation raises serious concerns about Bengaluru’s trajectory, with experts warning of the city potentially following a similar path to Delhi if drastic measures are not implemented urgently. The need for stricter enforcement of existing regulations, improved road maintenance, and enhanced vehicle scrapping initiatives is paramount to mitigating this growing crisis.

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