Lok Sabha Question No. 2639 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2026-03-09
Subject: Implementation of National Clean Air Programme in Bengaluru
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: Shri P C Mohan

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2639

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.03.2026

## Implementation of National Clean Air Programme in Bengaluru

2639. SHRI P C MOHAN:

Will the Minister of ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE be pleased to state:

- (a)  the  present  status  of  implementation  of  the  National  Clean Air  Programme  (NCAP)  in Bengaluru and the key action points identified for improving air quality in the city;
- (b) whether dedicated financial assistance has been provided to Bengaluru under NCAP for air quality improvement and if so, the amount sanctioned, released and utilised so far;
- (c) the major interventions undertaken using these funds, including measures related to traffic management,  control  of  construction  dust,  industrial  emissions  and  promotion  of  clean mobility;

(d) the manner in which air quality monitoring is being carried out in Bengaluru, including the number of continuous ambient air quality monitoring stations, use of low-cost sensors  and public dissemination of data; and

(e) whether the Government has assessed the impact of NCAP interventions on the AQI levels in Bengaluru and the progress achieved so far?

## ANSWER

MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (SHRI KIRTI VARDHAN SINGH)

(a) & (b) : Bengaluru city has been included as non-attainment city under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) of Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to improve air quality through implementation of city action plans.

Source apportionment study has been conducted for Bengaluru city for identification of sources of  pollution.  City  Action  Plan  prepared  by  Bengaluru  city  focuses  on  source-specific interventions targeting road dust control, construction and demolition activities, decongestion of traffic junctions, greening of open spaces and medians, mitigation measures at identified hotspots, deployment of mechanical road sweeping machines, and promotion of clean mobility. Annual  action  plan  for  FY  2025-26  has  been  prepared  for  implementing  air  quality improvement measures.

City-level  Monitoring  and  Implementation  Committee  has  been  constituted  under  the chairmanship of Deputy Commissioner, Bengaluru for preparing and monitoring city action plan.  State-level  Implementation and Monitoring Committee (SLMIC) has been constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Chief Secretary, Urban Development Department.

City has identified 9 higher emission zones/hotspots and detailed action plan for the identified sources in these hotspots have been prepared. Public Grievance Redressal System also been developed in non-attainment/ million plus cities wherein air pollution issues are addressed.

To  tackle  air  pollution  in  emergencies,  Emergency  Response  Plan  has  been  prepared  for Bengaluru City, which provides set of emergency response actions, depending on severity of air pollution levels.

Air quality performance grant of ₹ 541.1 crore has been provided to Bengaluru City under XVth Finance Commission (XV-FC) Million-plus City Challenge Fund. City has reported the utilization of  ₹ 427.43 crore (79%) on PRANA Portal.

(c) : Major interventions undertaken including measures related to traffic management, control of construction dust and promotion of clean mobility are placed at Annexure-I.

Karnataka  State  Pollution  Control  Board,  through  Consent  mechanism  under  the  Water (Prevention  and  Control  of  Pollution)  Act,  1974  and  the  Air  (Prevention  and  Control  of Pollution) Act,  1981,  monitor  the  establishment  and  operation  of  industries  and  polluting activities through prescription of pollution control measures and monitoring the compliance of environmental standards.

(d) : Ambient air quality monitoring in Bengaluru city is carried out through 26 monitoring stations,  including  11  Continuous  Ambient  Air  Quality  Monitoring  Stations  (CAAQMS), operated by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board.

A  centralised  air  quality  portal  and  mobile  app-SAMEER  is  functional  for  tracking  and dissemination of near real time air quality data and hourly Air Quality Index to the public. CPCB  issues  a  daily  bulletin  at  04:00  PM  comprising  AQI  of  various  cities,  including Bengaluru, in the country. SAMEER app also serves as a grievance redressal mechanism which allows the citizens to report pollution related complaints for quick resolution by the concerned agencies. Further, air quality monitoring data is also made available by respective SPCBs/PCCs on their websites.

CPCB issued  a  methodology  for  measurement  of  ambient  air  quality  as  per  the  approved methods. Data from low cost sensors is not reliable. There is no approved national reference available to use data from low cost sensors for regulatory purposes.

(e) : Due to coordinated efforts, air quality in Bengaluru city has improved showing reduction of 21.7% in terms of PM10 levels of 72 µg/m³ in 2024-25 as compared to 92 µg/m³ during the 2017-18. Bengaluru city has not recorded any bad air quality days (Air Quality Index>201) during last three years.

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## Major interventions undertaken by Bengaluru City under National Clean Air Programme (NCAP)

- i. 212.6 km of roads paved/pedestrian built/road design improved
- ii. 1,25,290 metre square of area planted with green cover
- iii. 2,72,000 tons of C&D waste collected
- iv. 127 Nos. of New electric buses procured and deployed
- v. 20 Nos. of traffic congestion points intervened
- vi. 16 Nos. of water fountains installed
- vii. 7 Nos. of EV-charging stations installed

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