Understanding MANAS network launched in Mumbai to track Air Quality Index

Unlike the existing platforms run by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) and state pollution control boards, the MANAS portal will not use the conventional Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring System (CAAQMS).

How is this portal different from existing ones?

Currently, Mumbai’s AQI status is integrated with those of all the major cities in India in the common CPCB platform called ‘Sameer’. In Mumbai, 28 CAAQMS machines are installed at various locations to track the AQI status of each area. These machines analyse the particulate matter and other microcomponents present in the air and display readings on the dashboard. Each machine can cover an airshed within a 2-km radius of a location.

The proposed MANAS portal will comprise a network of 75 sensors that will record AQI at a much more hyperlocal level. For example, the CAAQMS provides AQI data of Mumbai’s Andheri or Bandra areas, which are large subdivisions within the city. The MANAS sensors will give much more micro-level data of these larger areas, enabling the administration to understand the AQI status of Mumbai at a much more localised level. For example, the administration will be able to analyse the local level AQI of Carter Road and Pali Hill using the sensors, apart from the overall status of Bandra, which would be available on the CPCB portal; or maybe the AQI for Chakala and Saki Naka, along with the overall air quality of Andheri.

The portal will also be equipped with an AI tool that will analyse the readings and suggest solutions to troubleshoot the problems. Experts stated that the AI tool will analyse historical data to identify the causes and provide solutions to mitigate the problem. Besides, the tool may also predict when the AQI reading in a particular area may start to dip for any reason.

How will these sensors work?

The civic administration, along with IIT-K scientists, will prepare a grid map for Mumbai city, marking hotspots with consistently poor AQIs.

Besides, the map will identify large geographical areas that may require extensive monitoring, following which sensors will be set up, and their readings recorded through a common integrated platform.

The authorities stated that the sensors are much cheaper, unlike CAAQMS, which costs Rs 1.6 crore each for setting up and maintenance over a period of five years. They are compact, resembling the size of a small radio, while the CAAQMS are big machines set up on mini towers and equipped with control rooms.

When will the portal be available?

According to the authorities, the portal will be ready in six months, but will not be opened for public access immediately. The authorities said that they will monitor the readings of the sensors for the first few months and compare them with the nearby CAAQMS machines to check if there are any faults in the calibration. In case of technical issues, troubleshooting will be carried out. The civic authorities will launch the portal for the public during the second half of 2026, only after all the hiccups have been countered.