Mumbai is poised to receive a significant technological upgrade in its fight against air pollution. The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, is set to launch an independent, advanced platform for monitoring the city's Air Quality Index (AQI).
Introducing the Mumbai Air Network for Advanced Sciences (MANAS)
Named the Mumbai Air Network for Advanced Sciences (MANAS), this new initiative is scheduled to go live within the next six months. The platform represents a major step towards creating a more granular and real-time understanding of the city's air quality, moving beyond the existing monitoring infrastructure.
Currently, Mumbai relies on 28 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS), which are integrated with the Central Pollution Control Board's (CPCB) national dashboard. While these stations provide valuable data, each covers a radius of about 2 square kilometers, offering a broader area assessment.
In contrast, the MANAS portal will be owned and operated solely by the BMC. It will deploy a dense network of 75 AQI monitoring sensors across the city. This expansion will enable the collection of hyperlocal data, broadcasting real-time, neighborhood-specific AQI information to the public by the second half of 2026.
How MANAS Will Revolutionize Pollution Tracking
The core innovation of MANAS lies in its precision. As explained by civic officials, while one CAAQMS station might cover Andheri, MANAS sensors will provide specific readings for smaller pockets like Chakala in Saki Naka. Dr. Sachida Nand Tripathi, a professor at IIT Kanpur and a steering committee member of the National Clean Air Programme (NCAP), illustrated the advantage.
"If one CAAQMS covers a radius of 2 square km, adding four more sensors in that area means each now covers just 0.5 square km," Dr. Tripathi stated. This drastic reduction in coverage area will yield a far more detailed and accurate map of pollution sources and hotspots.
Deputy Municipal Commissioner Avinash Kate emphasized that the primary goal is to enable air quality mapping at a highly localized level. Initially, data from the new sensors will be analyzed and compared with existing CAAQMS readings to calibrate the system before the portal is opened for public access.
The First-Ever AI Model for Cost-Effective Pollution Mitigation
What truly sets the Mumbai project apart is its integration of artificial intelligence. While similar sensor networks exist in states like Bihar (540 sensors) and Uttar Pradesh (835 sensors), they primarily deliver raw AQI data.
The MANAS system will incorporate a pioneering AI model designed not only to identify patterns and sources contributing to air pollution but also to suggest possible mitigation measures. "This is the first-ever AI model that will not only identify patterns of sources that contribute to air pollution but also identify measures to mitigate them," confirmed Dr. Tripathi.
He further highlighted that the sensors selected for Mumbai are cost-effective and easy to deploy and maintain, making the scalable model sustainable for long-term use. The AI's predictive capabilities will help authorities understand probable causes for AQI deterioration and outline actionable steps to address them.
The launch of MANAS comes at a crucial time for India's financial capital, where several areas have consistently recorded poor air quality. On December 2, 2025, the city's AQI was recorded at 125, which falls under the 'moderate' category. This new, intelligent monitoring network promises to equip Mumbai with the data-driven tools needed for more targeted and effective clean air strategies.
