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This is an archive article published on November 17, 2023

Changing City: BEST to install air purifiers on Mumbai bus roofs to curb pollution

The buses will act as a mobile filtration van which will cleanse the dust particles while it is on the move.

mumbai best buses air purifiersThe buses will act as mobile air purifiers by having filtration units affixed on top of the vehicles.
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Changing City: BEST to install air purifiers on Mumbai bus roofs to curb pollution
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In the wake of Mumbai’s worsening air quality, the buses of Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) undertaking is set to get air purifiers mounted on their roofs to curb air pollution.

About the Project

The buses will act as mobile air purifiers by having filtration units affixed on top of the vehicles. These filters will suck in the polluted air and clean the suspended particulate matter from the air, thus channelling out a better quality of air.

best buses air purifiers Initially, 350 buses will have the filters and the cost of each filter is around Rs 50,000.

How will the filters work?

According to officials from the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) environment department, High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters will be mounted on the rooftop of the buses. These filters will be able to clean up to 15,000 cubic metres of air per hour and will be able to capture 12-15 grams of suspended particulate matter. These filters will operate on velocity and will not require any additional power source, they said.

Benefit of this project

Civic officials said that the primary source of air pollution in Mumbai is vehicular emission. As a result, these buses will act as a mobile filtration van which will cleanse the dust particles while it is on the move. In traffic junctions, with officials hope to bring down emission levels the help of these purifiers.

Scale of this project

Initially, 350 buses will have the filters and the cost of each filter is around Rs 50,000. Civic officials said that the first phase of the project will be implemented by the end of December and the fund for purchasing these units is being acquired through CSR.

Administration speak

According to Minesh Pimpale, deputy municipal commissioner (Environment), an average bus runs around 160 km every day and hence installing these filters is going to prove effective by a certain margin in cleansing the air. If this method proves to be successful then more buses will be fitted with such filters, Pimpale said.

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

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