BMC’s 30-Day Ultimatum: Mumbai Builders Must Install AQI Sensors or Face Penalty
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has issued a strict 30-day ultimatum to all real estate developers in Mumbai, directing them to install Air Quality Index (AQI) sensors at their construction sites. The move comes after civic data revealed that only 45% of the 1,200 active construction sites in the city have installed these pollution monitoring devices. The sensors will track air quality and ensure compliance with dust control norms across Mumbai’s rapidly developing landscape.
As part of the Mumbai Air Pollution Mitigation Plan (MAPMP), BMC identified construction dust as one of the key contributors to the city’s worsening air quality. Following a High Court order in 2023, the civic body mandated all builders to install real-time AQI sensors that record and display dust levels on LED boards at project sites. Currently, around 550 developers have complied, while 200 more are in the process of installation.
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BMC officials stated that these sensors will feed live data into a central monitoring system, helping authorities track whether builders are following essential dust suppression measures such as water sprinkling and debris covering. Any site consistently showing poor AQI readings will invite strict action, including fines or work stoppage. Teams from the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and ward-level staff will jointly inspect construction zones for violations.
The ultimatum expires by the end of November 2025, after which non-compliant developers will face penalties. The civic move comes amid rising pollution levels in Mumbai — post- monsoon AQI levels have fallen from “good” to “moderate,” and post-Diwali readings touched the “poor” and “very poor” categories in several areas. The initiative aims to make Mumbai’s construction practices more sustainable and protect citizens from the adverse effects of air pollution.
