Premium

Chandigarh admn cuts power to India’s tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it

Studies find purifier 'of no use,' thus firm was given three months to dismantle the tower, which ended in Oct: CPCC Studies find purifier 'of no use,' thus firm was given three months to dismantle the tower, which ended in Oct: CPCC

3 min readChandigarhNov 17, 2025 12:41 PM IST

Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) issued a notice to the firm for the removal of the air purifier within three months. (File)

India’s tallest air purifier at Transport Chowk in the city is all set to be dismantled, with the Chandigarh Administration disconnecting power to the device and directing the firm to dismantle the structure immediately, as a three-month deadline given to them ended in October.

Before terminating the contract with the firm, Pious Air Private Limited, which installed the air purifier in 2021 and had to operate and maintain it for five years, the Chandigarh Administration got a third-party assessment of the air purifier done. National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research (NITTTR) found that the air purifier covers a very limited area.

Following this, the Chandigarh Pollution Control Committee (CPCC) issued a notice to the firm for the removal of the air purifier within three months. The firm, however, sought time and allowances from the UT Administration.

“We have disconnected the power supply and directed the firm to remove the structure with immediate effect. Two studies were conducted, and it was found that the air purifier was not delivering the results as claimed. So, it’s of no use, and thus, we took the decision,” CPCC Member Secretary Saurabh Kumar told The Indian Express.

In July, the CPCC governing body had decided to terminate the contract with the firm.

The firm bore the cost of the 24-metre-tall tower on its own, but the UT Administration would supply electricity to operate the device and pay approximately Rs 25,000 monthly, around Rs 3 lakh annually, power bill for the tower, according to an official.

The company had claimed that the air purifier tower would clean air in a radius of 500 metres. While operating for 18 hours a day, it was stated that the tower would reduce the ambient temperature by a few degrees, and cut pollutants such as PM2.5, PM10, nitrogen oxides, and sulphur dioxide by up to 50 per cent.

Story continues below this ad

The air purifier tower was a pilot project of the Chandigarh administration, which had then decided to install similar air purifier towers at six major intersections in the city. However, the failure of the pilot project came as a setback to the decision.

“Transport Chowk was chosen for the pilot project as it witnesses heavy vehicular traffic, and thus, heavy vehicular emissions, but it never purified the air as claimed by the firm,” a UT official said.

Hina Rohtaki

Hina Rohtaki is a Special Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in Chandigarh. She is one of the most prominent journalists covering the Chandigarh Administration, civic issues, and the unique political status of the Union Territory. Professional Background Experience: She has been in the field for over a decade and is known for her investigative reporting on administrative waste and urban governance. Awards: She is a recipient of the prestigious Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Award, which was presented to her by the President of India in January 2020. She was also awarded the Jethmalani prize (The Will of Steel Awards) in 2025 in the Empowerment category for a series of articles that highlighted the struggles of Covid widows. Core Beat: Her primary focus is the Chandigarh administrative structure, the Union Territory's financial management, and urban development projects. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent work highlights a focus on government accountability, administrative expenditures, and civic trends: 1. Investigative & Financial Reporting "Fuelling power: Senior UT IAS officers guzzled petrol worth Rs 30 lakh in 2 yrs" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative report detailing the high fuel bills of top bureaucrats, including the Finance Secretary and Chief Secretary’s staff. "Admn spends Rs 1.5 crore on dismantling road railings and fixing again after increasing height" (Dec 8, 2025): Highlighting administrative waste on "non-viable" solutions for pedestrian control. "Chandigarh’s finances under ministry’s watch now" (Nov 27, 2025): Reporting on the new requirement for MHA approval for all new projects in the UT. 2. Governance & Constitutional Status "What will it mean for Chandigarh if it is brought under Article 240?" (Nov 24, 2025): An "Explained" piece on the potential constitutional shift that would grant the President more power over the UT's governance. "MP Manish Tewari moves Bill seeking directly elected Mayor with 5-year tenure" (Dec 6, 2025): Covering the legislative push to reform Chandigarh's municipal leadership structure. "No proposal to increase Mayor's term in Chandigarh by 5 years: Centre" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on the Union government's response to demands for a longer mayoral term. 3. Urban Infrastructure & Environment "Chandigarh admn cuts power to India's tallest air purifier, asks firm to dismantle it" (Nov 17, 2025): A critical report on the failure of a high-cost environmental project deemed "of no use" by experts. "UT rethinks 24/7 water supply project as costs soar" (Nov 26, 2025): Detailing the financial challenges and delays in modernizing the city's water network. "Centre 'obfuscating, covering up' MC's shifting deadlines for clearing Dadu Majra dump" (Dec 12, 2025): Reporting on the ongoing controversy surrounding the city's major waste dump. 4. Lifestyle & Local Trends "Chandigarh turns into a Thar city as women fuel the surge" (Dec 2, 2025): A feature on a unique automotive trend in the city, with a record 600 registrations by women drivers this year. "After fivefold spike in 2023, EV sales struggle to pick pace in Chandigarh" (Dec 2, 2025): Analyzing the slowdown in electric vehicle adoption despite previous surges. Signature Beat Hina is known for her meticulous tracking of RTI (Right to Information) data to expose administrative inefficiency. Her "Ground Zero" reporting on the Dadu Majra garbage dump and her scrutiny of the Chandigarh Smart City projects have made her a key figure in the city’s civil society discourse. X (Twitter): @HinaRohtaki ... Read More

Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram

Loading Taboola...