Special Correspondent: Arun Sharma

New Delhi: In a significant step toward strengthening pollution surveillance in the national capital, Environment Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa has announced that six new air quality monitoring stations will be integrated into the network of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) within a week.


The move is expected to enhance both the accuracy and coverage of Air Quality Index (AQI) reporting across Delhi.


Real-Time, Citywide Monitoring Boost
According to the minister, the stations are already operational but were not previously linked to the CPCB’s centralized system. Their integration will enable real-time, citywide pollution tracking, allowing for more precise and transparent AQI assessments.


Key Highlights:
6 new CAAQMS stations to be linked with CPCB within a week
Delhi now has 46 Continuous Ambient Air Quality Monitoring Stations (CAAQMS) — among the highest in the country
Improved monitoring of PM2.5, PM10, and other key pollutants
Enhanced AQI accuracy and transparency
Hyper-local pollution data to support targeted action plans
Deployment of 100 personnel under the ‘Vayu Rakshak’ enforcement drive


Strategic Locations Across the Capital
The new stations, installed last year by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), are located at:
Jawaharlal Nehru University
Indira Gandhi National Open University
ISRO Earth Station (Malcha Mahal – Central Ridge)
Delhi Cantonment Board
Commonwealth Games Village
Netaji Subhas University of Technology (West Campus)
Some experts have previously raised concerns that certain stations located in relatively greener zones could influence average pollution readings. However, officials maintain that broader spatial coverage will improve overall representational accuracy.


Data-Driven Enforcement Strategy
Minister Sirsa emphasized that integration with CPCB will ensure seamless monitoring and enable data-driven interventions to combat pollution hotspots.

Currently, 30 monitoring stations are operated by DPCC, while additional units are managed by CPCB and institutions such as IMD/IITM. The expanded network is expected to generate granular pollution data, facilitating more effective mitigation strategies.


Clear Policy Signal
The initiative, combined with the proposed installation of 14 additional monitoring stations and the ongoing ‘Vayu Rakshak’ campaign, underscores the government’s firm stance on pollution control.


The message from the administration is clear: Delhi’s fight against air pollution will now rely on precise data, wider coverage, and strict enforcement.