Critical Pollution Hotspots Identified in Patna through Hyperlocal Monitoring

Patna: A report released on Friday revealed Patna’s critical pollution hotspots, with PM2.5 levels in some areas exceeding 170 µg/m³—far above the national safety standards. It highlights the need for precise, localised efforts to protect public health and improve urban air quality.

The report- Decoding Urban Air: Hyperlocal Insights into PM2.5 Pollution Across Indian Metropolises- by Respirer Living Sciences unveils the state of air quality presently outside the ambit of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) ambient air quality monitoring network. The report includes location-specific average CPCB data for November 2024 across 10 Indian cities but goes a step further by integrating hyperlocal monitoring and analysis, providing granular insights into pollution hotspots that traditional systems may miss. Leveraging hyperlocal data from over 150 sensors deployed across cities, Respirer combined air quality analysis from its AtlasAQ Platform using CPCB monitoring data and overlaid spatial insights from Google Maps Air Quality application programming interface (API).
The report provides a 500×500 meter resolution of air quality trends.

These innovative technologies revealed pollution patterns offering actionable insights for policymakers, urban planners, and citizens. Google has partnered with Respirer on the AirView+ initiative to enhance air quality monitoring across India.

Key Findings for Patna
● Hotspots Identified: Samanpura and Rajbansi Nagar emerged as critical pollution zones, with PM2.5 levels consistently exceeding safe thresholds, reaching 170 µg/m³ in peak zones.

● Factors Driving Pollution: Crop residue burning in surrounding regions, vehicular congestion, and rapid urban expansion were identified as major contributors to the city’s pollution hotspots.

● Comparative Insights: While CPCB data captured overall pollution levels for November 2024, hyperlocal monitoring revealed additional unmonitored hotspots and finer variations in urban and peri-urban areas.

The report outlines actionable recommendations to address urban air pollution, including implementing targeted emission controls and expanding low-emission zones; integrating urban forestry and green infrastructure to act as natural pollution buffers, and promoting public awareness through real-time data tools and educational campaigns.

“Hyperlocal air quality monitoring bridges the gap between traditional broad-scale assessments and the localised realities of air pollution. By providing fine-grained, real-time data, this approach enables us to pinpoint pollution sources with accuracy and design targeted interventions that can improve public health outcomes. It is commendablethat organisations such as Respirer are leveraging innovative technologies such as advanced sensors and data analytics to address this urgent need, offering actionable insights towards pollution abatement,” said Professor Sachchida Nand Tripathi, Chair, Steering Committee, National Clean Air Programme (NCAP) and Dean, Kotak School of Sustainability, IIT Kanpur.

Average PM2.5 Levels- CPCB data compilation for Patna

Station                                 –                       PM2.5
Govt. High School Shikarpur Patna- BSPCB – 63.7
Muradpur Patna- BSPCB – 79.5
Rajbansi Nagar Patna- BSPCB – 110.3
DRMOfficeDanapur Patna-BSPCB – 118.8
IGSC Planetarium Complex Patna- BSPCB – 142.2
Samanpura Patna-BSPCB – 179.