Air Quality Monitoring Stations Expanding in Delhi-NCR

The air quality in Delhi and the surrounding regions is an important concern. To address pollution better, the Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) has been working to expand the network of air quality monitoring stations. These stations track the level of air pollution in real time, helping authorities understand where pollution is highest and how it changes over time. Recently, six new monitoring stations have been set up in Delhi, bringing the total number of stations in the city to 46. The goal is to install even more stations, with plans to add 14 more in the next financial year. This expansion aims to place one station every 25 square kilometers in Delhi, to ensure that every part of the city is well monitored. In addition to Delhi, the CAQM is working to set up 46 new monitoring stations across the broader National Capital Region, or NCR. This includes 16 stations in Haryana, 15 in Uttar Pradesh, 14 in Delhi, and one in Rajasthan. Once all these stations are operational, the total number of air quality monitoring stations in the Delhi-NCR area will reach 157. This larger network will help officials get a clearer picture of air pollution across the region. The purpose of increasing the number of monitoring stations is to improve how air quality is measured and understood. More stations mean more accurate and detailed data, which is vital for making effective policies to reduce pollution. Better data allows authorities to identify pollution hotspots, monitor changes over time, and evaluate the effectiveness of pollution control measures. The CAQM has also adopted a special plan called a grid-based spatial coverage model. Under this model, a monitoring station is placed every 25 square kilometers in larger urban areas and in cities within the NCR. In smaller districts or less populated areas, the stations are spaced about 50 square kilometers apart. This approach aims to cover all parts of the region fairly and thoroughly. The expansion of the monitoring network was designed to fill gaps in the existing system. Some peripheral districts or less monitored areas might not have enough stations. The goal is to make sure that monitoring is comprehensive and balanced across the entire Delhi-NCR region. Having a dense network helps authorities detect and respond to pollution more effectively. For the future, having this many monitoring stations will support better enforcement of pollution control laws and help in designing targeted strategies. Accurate data collected from these stations can guide policies that aim to reduce air pollution and protect people's health. However, as of now, there is no official confirmation that all these new stations in Delhi-NCR will be installed by February 2026. The plans are part of a larger effort to improve air quality management, but their implementation may vary based on progress and logistics. In summary, the CAQM is working to make air quality monitoring more detailed and widespread across Delhi and the NCR. This effort is important because good data is essential to fight air pollution effectively. By expanding the network of monitoring stations, authorities hope to better understand pollution sources and improve health outcomes for residents in the region.