A collective, albeit cautious, sigh of relief can be heard across India’s sprawling urban centres this week. After weeks of battling smog and hazardous air quality, most major metropolitan cities are reporting a marginal improvement in their Air Quality Index (AQI) figures. While the respite is welcome, environmental experts warn against premature celebration, pointing to meteorological factors rather than significant policy-driven change.
Amidst this slight recovery, one city continues to stand head and shoulders above the rest: Bengaluru.
Delhi Breathes Easier, But Remains ‘Very Poor’
For weeks, Delhi has been the unfortunate poster child for India’s air pollution crisis, with AQI levels frequently breaching the ‘Severe’ and ‘Hazardous’ categories. Today, data from the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) shows the national capital’s average AQI hovering in the ‘Poor’ to ‘Very Poor’ range, a noticeable dip from the alarming 400-500 levels seen recently.
Favourable wind speeds have played a crucial role in dispersing pollutants. However, with an AQI still between 250 and 350, the air remains unhealthy for most residents.
Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai See Moderate Relief
Mumbai, which surprisingly wrestled with its own smog problem this season, has also seen its air quality improve from ‘Poor’ to ‘Moderate’. The financial capital’s residents are once again enjoying clearer skies, a stark contrast to the past month. Similarly, Kolkata and Chennai have registered AQI figures in the ‘Moderate’ category, providing their citizens with a much-needed break from respiratory distress.
Bengaluru: India’s Undisputed Clean Air Champion
The real success story lies in the south. Bengaluru, India’s Silicon Valley, has once again cemented its reputation as the ‘Garden City’ by consistently maintaining its position at the top of the clean-air chart among metros. With an average AQI comfortably in the ‘Satisfactory’ bracket (often dipping into ‘Good’), the city is a welcome outlier in India’s urban pollution narrative.
The Secret to Bengaluru’s Success: Geography and Greenery
Experts point to a combination of factors that contribute to Bengaluru’s cleaner air:
- Elevation: The city’s location at over 900 metres above sea level aids in the faster dispersal of pollutants.
- Green Cover: Its abundant parks and tree-lined avenues act as natural air filters.
- Lack of Stubble Burning: Unlike Delhi, Bengaluru is not plagued by widespread crop stubble burning in its neighbouring states.
“Bengaluru’s geographical and topographical advantages cannot be understated,” says Dr. Anjali Verma, an environmental scientist at the Centre for Climate Studies. “However, we must not become complacent. The city’s vehicular density is exploding… The current clean-air status is a gift of geography that concerted pollution can easily snatch away.”
A Fragile Respite: Why This Improvement May Be Temporary
The current improvement across other metros is a fragile one, largely attributed to temporary shifts in wind patterns and a slight increase in temperature. It is a fleeting glimpse of what our cities could be, rather than a permanent victory. As winter deepens, the risk of temperature inversion—where a layer of cool air traps pollutants close to the ground—remains high.
For now, citizens can breathe a little easier. This brief respite should serve as a stark reminder of the blue skies we are fighting for. While Bengaluru keeps its top spot, the rest of urban India must see it as a benchmark in the year-long marathon for clean air.
