Navi Mumbai: Air pollution concerns in Navi Mumbai are no longer limited to industrial areas such as Mahape, with residential and commercial hubs, including Nerul and CBD Belapur, also recording Air Quality Index (AQI) levels above 100; it has become a major health concern across all the nodes.

Around 6:00 p.m. on October 20, AQI readings on the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) dashboard stood at 121 in Mahape, 106 in Nerul and 126 in CBD Belapur, while Navi Mumbai’s overall AQI was 92. PM10 was listed as the prominent pollutant at these monitoring locations, raising concerns about air quality across the city.

Residents say the deteriorating conditions are affecting their daily lives and fear the situation could worsen during winter and Diwali.

Hritik Joshi, a Nerul resident, said, “We see haziness in the air throughout the day irrespective of what the AQI monitor indicates. The situation seems to be worsening every day, and I fear it could deteriorate further during winter and Diwali. The civic body and pollution control board should take immediate measures.”

Karishma Singh*, a Nerul resident and asthma patient who requested a change of name, said, “The worsening air quality is alarming. I have experienced breathlessness several times this week while outdoors, and the situation needs urgent attention. We cannot remain indoors or wear a scarf all the time; the civic body should have a roadmap for controlling AQI, which has become a major health issue for all.”

Juinagar resident Amey Sakharkar also called for urgent intervention. “If we cannot even breathe clean air, what does development mean? Clean air is a basic necessity, and the government must take concrete steps to address pollution,” he said.

Residents are urging civic authorities and pollution-control officials to strengthen enforcement, identify pollution sources, and implement effective measures to improve air quality across Navi Mumbai.