BMC will maintain the proposed MANAS portal, and it will comprise a network of 75 AQI monitoring sensors that will record much more hyperlocal data and broadcast real-time, more localised AQI information. (File photo)
Mumbai is set to get a dedicated platform to monitor the Air Quality Index (AQI), as the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, along with the Indian Institute of Technology Kanpur, will launch the Mumbai Air Network for Advanced Sciences (MANAS) in the next six months.
The move comes at a time when several pockets in the country’s financial capital have regularly recorded poor AQI readings. According to the CPCB portal, Mumbai recorded an AQI of 125 on Tuesday, which is considered ‘moderate’.
At present, Mumbai has 28 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) that record the city’s AQI. These stations are integrated with the Central Pollution Control Board’s (CPCB) dashboard, which allows people to access real-time AQI readings.
CAAQMS covers a 2 km radius and provides real-time data on the surrounding ambient air.
Localised AQI readings
BMC will maintain the proposed MANAS portal, and it will comprise a network of 75 AQI monitoring sensors that will record much more hyperlocal data and broadcast real-time, more localised AQI information.
Civic body officials told The Indian Express that the MANAS system will be live within the next six months, and that by the second half of next year, the entire system will be made available for public access.
“The larger point of having such a platform is to ensure that mapping of air quality is being done at a much more localised level. This platform will be solely owned and operated by BMC since it’s the civic body’s initiative to have our own independent platform as well,” Avinash Kate, Deputy Municipal Commissioner, told The Indian Express.
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“Initially, we will analyse the data recorded by the sensors, and then compare it with the existing CAAQMS to understand the differences and whether there are any hiccups in the model. After the entire process is streamlined, the online platform will be made available for public access,” added Kate.
Kate said that first, a grid of Mumbai’s airshed, which is a geographic area where the same sources of air pollution influence the air quality, will be created based on readily available data, following which 75 sensors will be deployed in areas where there is a requirement to monitor such areas.
CAAQMS vs MANAS
While CAAQMS provides an overall assessment of air quality in Mumbai’s Andheri area, the MANAS portal provides much more specific information on air quality in Chakala, in Andheri’s Saki Naka area.
“For example, if one CAAQMS covers a radius of 2 square km, now if we add four more sensors in that area, we will get a better understanding of the local level air quality since the radius covered by each sensor will now stand at 0.5 square km,” Dr Sachida Nand Tripathi, scientist and professor at IIT-Kanpur and steering committee member in the Union ministry’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) told The Indian Express.
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Such hyperlocal AQI sensors have been deployed in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. According to data, Bihar has a network of 540 sensors, and UP has a network of 835 sensors.
Dr Tripathi said that, in addition to AQI readings, the sensor will also be integrated with an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model that will predict the probable causes of AQI deterioration and outline possible mitigation measures.
“The sensors that have been installed in UP and Bihar only give out AQI data. For Mumbai, we will be using the first-ever AI model that will not only identify patterns of sources that contribute to air pollution, but also identify measures to mitigate them. These sensors are also cost-effective and easy to deploy and maintain,” Dr Tripathi added.
Pratip Acharya is a seasoned journalist based in Mumbai reporting for The Indian Express. With a career spanning over a decade, his work demonstrates strong Expertise and Authority in critical urban issues, civic affairs, and electoral politics across Eastern and Western India.
Expertise & Authority
Current Role: Journalist, The Indian Express (IE), reporting from Mumbai.
Core Authority: Pratip's reporting focuses sharply on local democracy and development, specializing in:
Urban Governance and Civic Affairs: Providing in-depth analysis of municipal decision-making, city planning, and local infrastructure, essential for informed urban reporting.
City Politics and Environment: Covering the political dynamics of Mumbai and surrounding areas, alongside critical environmental challenges impacting the metro region.
Electoral Coverage (High-Stakes Experience): He has extensive experience in high-stakes political reporting, having covered major elections, establishing his Trustworthiness in political analysis:
National: Lok Sabha elections in 2014 and 2019.
State: West Bengal Assembly elections in 2016 and Maharashtra Assembly elections in 2019.
Major Assignments (Ground Reporting): Pratip demonstrated commitment during crises by conducting ground reporting throughout the Covid-19 pandemic since its breakout in 2020, offering first-hand accounts and analysis of the public health crisis.
Experience
Extensive Experience: Starting his career in 2014, Pratip has built his foundation across multiple prominent English dailies:
Started at The Times of India in Kolkata (2014).
Relocated to Mumbai (2016) and worked with The Free Press Journal and Hindustan Times before joining The Indian Express.
Pratip Acharya's diverse experience across major publications, coupled with his specialized focus on the intricate details of urban governance and a track record of covering major electoral and health crises, establishes him as a trusted and authoritative source for news from India's critical metropolitan centres. ... Read More
