Delhi recorded the highest AQI levels in 2024 at 700+. Not just this more days recorded the Hazardous levels in the city. However, not just New Delhi, Air quality levels in India’s metro cities marked the high air quality levels. But are we gonna see the same condition of AQI in 2025 too? Here’s in the blog let’s see how air pollution remained in top metro cities in India.
PM2.5 data is also mentioned for each city to know what we can expect from AQI in India in 2025. High air quality levels have already impacted many cities resulting in control measures. Not just this, it has affected the lives of many residents in each city. Let’s see what we can expect and what urgent actions and interventions to address in 2025 for better air quality and fresh air for everyone.
India’s Metro cities AQI in 2024 to understand the upcoming of AQI in 2025:
Firstly let’s start with knowing AQI levels in 2024 in each city. Also, we will cover the condition of each city because of these levels. First comes the capital city of India New Delhi:
Delhi: The Most Polluted Capital
New Delhi is known for its high pollution levels every year. It is noticed that air quality levels in the city mostly rise during winters and set new ground. Here let’s see how AQI in Delhi 2024 remained to expect from 2025.
2024 Data Trends:
- Average AQI Level: 169, categorized as “Unhealthy.”
- Clean Air Days: 1 day, and 364 days in moderate to hazardous categories.
- PM2.5 Average: 95 µg/m³, equal to smoking 1,576 cigarettes annually.
Highlights:
Winter resulted in temperature inversion that holds the pollutants in the ground for a long. Moreover, the festive time in Delhi after October affects the air quality. Besides, stubble burning in the nearby areas increases the air pollution in Delhi during winter. Vehicle and industrial emissions in the city resulted in extreme conditions.
Two times, GRAP 4 was implemented in Delhi for severe air quality levels. It resulted in the closing of schools and offices.
Mumbai:
The city with vibrant energy faces air pollution challenges every year. It is mostly due to urbanization and industrial emissions. Here let us know the 2024 AQI data trend in Mumbai to know what will be India AQI in 2025:
2024 Data Trends
- Average AQI Level: 101, categorized as “Moderate.”
- Clean Air Days: 43 days, with the rest falling in moderate to very poor categories.
- PM2.5 Average: 64 µg/m³, equal to smoking 647 cigarettes annually.
Highlights
- Factors: The major factors for air pollution in Mumbai are emissions from industries, vehicle traffic and construction dust. It is a growing problem due to urban development. During the last week of December 2024, AQI reached “Unhealthy” levels and affected citizens.
Pune:
Pune has had a known name for the clean air. However, it has remained for a short time as various factors have influenced the city’s air quality levels. Now, residents in Pune are facing poor air quality here Know the condition to know what to expect from India AQI in 2025:
2024 Data Trends in Pune:
- Average AQI Level: 105, categorized as “Poor”.
- Clean Air Days: 3 days experienced good air quality, while others were marginally acceptable.
- PM2.5 Average: 42 µg/m³, equivalent to 696 cigarettes annually.
Highlights
Again AQI levels in the city increased during winters and resulted in poor air quality. For this, most construction and vehicular emissions are highly responsible. Besides, the lack of green cover resulted in a rise in AQI levels in Pune.
Bangalore:
Bangalore is known as a city with pleasant weather. But now urbanization and traffic congestion influenced the city’s air quality. Still, the AQI levels are much better than other metro cities. Here are the trends if AQI in 2025 will remain at better levels:
2024 Data Trends in Bangalore
- Average AQI Level: 73, categorized as “Moderate.”
- Clean Air Days: 108 days, while the remaining days showed increasing pollution.
- PM2.5 Average: 24 µg/m³, equivalent to smoking 398 cigarettes annually.
Highlights
Majorly the AQI in Bangalore remained in a better category as compared with previous cities. Still, 398 cigarettes in a year can affect everyone’s health. The major factors responsible for the pollution levels are vehicular emissions and IT parks.
Ahmedabad:
Air pollution in Ahmedabad is a rising concern affecting the city’s residents. Every year, AQI levels mostly remain in the unhealthy and poor category which can result in long-term air pollution exposure. Let us know last year’s conditions for future prediction and expectations:
2024 Data Trends in Ahmedabad:
- Average AQI Level: 119, categorized as “Moderate to Poor.”
- Clean Air Days: Only 2 days, with severe pollution dominating winters.
- PM2.5 Average: 48 µg/m³, equal to smoking 796 cigarettes annually.
Highlights
Major factors of air pollution in Ahmedabad are road dust, vehicular emission, open waste burning, construction activities and other factors.
Chennai:
Air quality levels in Chennai remain mostly in the Moderate category. Despite coastal winds, AQI levels reach poor levels and affect the lives of residents.
2024 Data Trends
- Average AQI Level: 83, categorized as “Moderate.”
- Clean Air Days: 29 days, with seasonal variations.
- PM2.5 Average: 29 µg/m³, equal to 481 cigarettes annually.
Highlights
AQI in the city mostly remains in better air quality conditions as compared with other metro cities. Still, traffic and industrial emissions result in high pollution in Chennai.
Kolkata:
Every year, air quality conditions change during winters and reach affecting levels. Kolkata AQI sets a new level every year because of various factors. 2024 also set new records so let us check it:
2024 Data Trends Kolkata:
- Average AQI Level: 188, categorized as “Poor.”
- Clean Air Days: 25 days, with poor air quality during winter.
- PM2.5 Average: 55 µg/m³, equivalent to 912 cigarettes annually.
Highlights
Air pollution in Kolkata increases during winter and more than in other metro cities in India except Delhi. The major factors are waste burning and industrial emissions that resulted in an uprise in PM2.5 levels in the city.
Hyderabad:
Hyderabad is known as the cleanest city in India. Similarly, the air quality conditions in the city remain slightly better than in other top cities. However, some days AQI lifts the impact on the entire city. Here are the 2024 data records:
2024 Data Trends
- Average AQI Level: 85, categorized as “Moderate.”
- Clean Air Days: 19 days, with marginal air quality on most other days.
- PM2.5 Average: 29 µg/m³, equivalent to 481 cigarettes annually.
Highlights
Major factors of air pollution in Hyderabad are vehicle exhaust particles and construction dust. However, AQI levels mostly remained in the moderate category and with actions can improve.
What Can We Expect From AQI in 2025?
If we see the 2024 levels, AQI in 2025 can break new records again. However, the timely actions and measures plan can improve the air quality. Still, Delhi has a high chance of facing the 2024-like condition in 2025 as well. For it, every citizen has to come forward to control the high level from their pace. Stay tuned with us more updated on Air quality in 2025!
