Pune: City Ranks 12th In National Clean Air Survey 2026, Scores 183 Out Of 200

Pune has claimed the 12th spot in the national Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan 2026 survey, a part of the Centre’s National Clean Air Programme (NCAP). The city achieved a score of 183 out of 200 in the category for metropolises with over a million inhabitants. As Pune grapples with air pollution issues fueled by increasing vehicle traffic, traffic congestion, dust from roads, construction work, and industrial emissions, neighboring Maharashtra cities of Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Nagpur outpaced it, securing the seventh, ninth, and tenth positions respectively.

Mumbai, on the other hand, ranked 28th in the national standings. The Swachh Vayu Sarvekshan assesses cities' efforts to curb air pollution, evaluating elements such as city action plans, dust control on roads and construction sites, traffic management, waste management, industrial emissions, vehicle pollution, and public awareness.

Pune has also leveraged technology to enhance the monitoring of air quality from construction sites. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC), in collaboration with World Resources Institute (WRI) India, has implemented sensor-based air quality monitoring in construction areas with a built-up area exceeding 5,000 square meters. This system tracks PM10 and PM2.5 levels and issues alerts when pollution levels rise.

Civil authorities can monitor sensor data, violations, and performance across various zones via a dedicated clean-air portal. Two Pune wards, Kothrud-Bavdhan and Dhankawdi-Katraj-Ambegaon, were also honored with state-level awards under Category 1. The latest ranking underscores the importance of controlling particulate pollution.

As Pune continues to grow, authorities must bolster initiatives aimed at reducing PM10 and PM2.5 levels, as well as addressing pollution stemming from vehicles, construction activities, and road dust.