While air pollution levels are high in most parts of the city, residential areas near highways and arterial roads seem to be the worst hit. As per the latest readings, the worst pollution levels were recorded at the Western Express Highway, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Road and LBS Marg.
Of the 16 Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) monitoring stations in Mumbai, the pollution levels were found to have exceeded the permissible limit by those set up near Kherwadi junction, Sion Hospital, and the Johnson and Johnson portion of the LBS Marg. The readings were collected for the period between February 15 and March 15.
The Sion stretch was the worst of the lot. The average levels for nitrogen oxides (Nox) and respirable suspended particulate matter (RSPM) recorded here were twice and thrice respectively above the set limits. At the Kherwadi junction too, high Nox and RSPM levels were recorded. The average Nox level found here was 97.25 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3), whereas the RSPM levels were found to be 188.32 (µg/m3).
According to norms set by the central pollution control board, Nox and RSPM levels need to be below 80 µg/m3 and 100 µg/m3 respectively.
While the Nox levels were found to be below the permissible limits at the LBS Marg monitoring station, the RSPM levels were 180.26 µg/m3.
The best air quality was recorded at the monitoring station at Kalbadevi and Worli. The air quality near Mahul at Chembur was also relatively good, MPCB officials noted.
MPCB member secretary Mahesh Phatak said that a reason for more pollution along highways and arterial stretches in the suburbs was the poor traffic disbursal system. “The disbursal system in parts of island city is more efficient,” he said.
Board officials added that the pollution levels at Dr BA Road, Western Express Highway and LBS Marg have consistently overshot the permissible limits in the past two years.
A senior scientist said that improving the disbursal system, reducing the number of private vehicles, and planting more trees around these stretches were options that could be explored to reverse the trend.
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