Mumbai Air Pollution: BMC Targets Dust Pollution At 3,200 Active Construction Sites As AQI Falls, BKC Records Poorest At 160

In Mumbai, October 20, 2026, the city's Construction and Building Trust (BMC) is making strides in addressing the worsening air pollution. With approximately 3,200 active construction sites, the BMC has been diligently enforcing the 28-point guidelines to curb air pollution. As the wind patterns change and temperatures drop, the air quality index (AQI) has seen a slight decline.

However, certain areas have been hit harder than others, with Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) reporting an AQI of 160, the highest among the monitored sites.

Central Pollution Control Board data revealed that on Tuesday, Mumbai's overall AQI stood at 102. Areas such as Navy Nagar-Colaba, Deonar, Bhandup West, and Andheri East also recorded poor AQI levels, ranging from 120 to 143. To combat this issue, 3,166 construction sites have installed AQI monitoring displays, mandated by the Bombay High Court.

A senior officer from the BMC Environment Department emphasized the urgency of cleaning the roads outside construction sites, stating that developers and builders must ensure that the roads are free from dust and debris.

The BMC's air pollution control action plan stipulates that if an area records an AQI above 300 for three consecutive days, the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) IV will be enacted. This may involve ordering construction sites within a 2-kilometer radius to halt operations until the AQI improves. Moreover, the BMC is actively working on replacing coal or wood-burning bakeries with cleaner fuel alternatives.

Currently, 354 bakeries out of the 593 in Mumbai rely on coal or wood for baking. Of these, 174 have already switched to cleaner fuels, while 69 are in the process of conversion. However, 87 bakeries still operate using coal or wood, and eight have been forced to close their doors.