Mumbai Air Pollution: AQI at 189 Today, Air Quality At 'Severe' Category In Several Areas

Mumbai's air quality remained in the unhealthy category on Monday, February 2, with the city recording an average Air Quality Index (AQI) of 189.

According to real-time air quality data updated at 10:51 am on AQI.in, Mumbai ranked 91st among the most polluted cities globally.

The primary contributors to deteriorating air quality were fine particulate matter PM2.5 and PM10, which significantly exceeded safe limits across most monitoring stations. The city-wide PM2.5 concentration stood at 113 µg/m³, while PM10 levels were recorded at 137 µg/m³, both well above the standards prescribed by health agencies.

While most parts of Mumbai reported unhealthy air, several pockets slipped into the severe pollution category. Areas such as Shiv Sagar Estate (AQI 245), Swastik Park (AQI 253), Bs Ambedkar Nagar (AQI 241), Chembur (AQI 233), Wadala Truck Terminal (AQI 238), Shell Colony (AQI 218), and Sion Station 2 (AQI 230) recorded alarmingly high pollution levels, the data said.

These localities also witnessed extremely high PM2.5 readings, with values crossing 170 µg/m³ in places like Shiv Sagar Estate and Swastik Park. High vehicular movement, industrial activity, construction dust, and congestion around transport hubs such as the Wadala Truck Terminal are believed to be major contributors to the spike.

Prominent residential and commercial areas including Andheri East, Bandra East, Bandra Kurla Complex, Kurla, Malad, Borivali, Mulund, Vile Parle West, Juhu, Worli, Colaba, and Santacruz West consistently recorded AQI values between 170 and 200, placing them firmly in the unhealthy zone.

Even coastal areas such as Colaba, Walkeshwar, and Navy Nagar failed to see significant relief despite sea breeze influence, indicating stagnant atmospheric conditions. The average temperature across monitoring stations hovered around 28-29°C, with humidity levels between 45 and 48 percent, conditions that can trap pollutants closer to the ground.

Mumbai's recurring air pollution problem highlights the need for stronger mitigation measures, including stricter control on vehicular emissions, better construction dust management, and enhanced monitoring of industrial zones. As air quality remains volatile, environmental experts warn that without sustained intervention, unhealthy air episodes could become the norm rather than the exception.