Delhi is set to expand its air quality monitoring infrastructure with the installation of six new Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), targeting areas not typically associated with high pollution.

The expansion, led by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), is part of the ongoing efforts to develop a more granular understanding of pollution patterns across different urban environments, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa told  He added that the government is aiming to have these stations operational by August, before winter sets in, when the city is hit by severe air pollution.

“It is a crucial step for holistic data on pollution in all areas,” he said. He emphasised the need to shift focus from only known pollution corridors to areas that are often assumed to be clean. “It is a myth that so-called green areas are not polluted. Vehicular pollution is a cause of concern throughout the city. So, it is necessary that we get pollution data for such areas too, not just the usual hotspots,” he said.